Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Transport Minister Rao Uday Pratap Singh has apparently given a clean chit to former constable of the Transport Department Saurabh Sharma about cash and gold found in a car at Mendora in Bhopal.

Singh’s statement came in the middle of the inquiry against Sharma. Replying to a question in the House on Monday, Singh said the car carrying gold and cash did not come out of the residence of Sharma. The Special Police Establishment of Lokayukta searched the residence of Sharma on December 19 and 20.

During the search, the vehicle did not come out of any of the two places, the minister said. In the question, legislator Lakhan Ghanghoriya said during the search operation, a vehicle filled with gold and cash was taken out of Sharma’s house, because Lokayukta ignored it, the legislator said.

The minister further said the officers of Lokayukta had never ignored it. The minister said eight complaints of extortions at the Transport Department’s barriers, received by Lokayukta in the past three years, were filed after an inquiry.

Cases have been registered against Saurabh Sharma, his wife Divya Tiwari, and his accomplices Sharad Jaiswal and Chetan Singh Gaur in connection with the Transport Department case, he said. On the other hand, a complaint has been registered against an officer Sunil Gaud for an old case, the minister said.