Graft case: HC stays Pradeep Sharma’s arrest

ED officials are probing Sharma in a money laundering case in which he is alleged to have sent Rs 30 lakh abroad illegally. During the investigation, ED officials have attached several of his properties. According to ED officials, Sharma allegedly sold a government plot at a cheaper rate to Kutch-based Welspun Group when he was posted there as district collector during 2003-04.

Sharma allegedly allotted the plot to Welspun at 25 per cent lesser than the market rates resulting into a loss of around Rs 1.2 crore to the state exchequer. In return, the Welspun group made Sharma’s wife 30 per cent partner in one of its subsidiaries – Value Packaging – without any investment on her part, and extended benefits of Rs 29.5 lakhs to her.

Last year, the Anti-Corruption Bureau filed a separate FIR against Sharma in this case and arrested him. Earlier in January, he was granted bail by a Bhuj local court against which the state government has filed a petition seeking cancellation of the bail. Besides, there is another petition in the court in which the ACB has sought direction from the court to issue summons to his wife in this case for further investigation.