HC issues notice to Pradeep Sharma’s wife, instructs to appear on June 15

Ahmedabad

The Gujarat High Court today issued notice to Mrs Shyamal Sharma, the wife of suspended IAS officer Pradeep Sharma for her appearance before it on June 15 in connection with a case being probed by the anti corruption bureau (ACB) of the state.

Shyamal, a co-accused in the case, lives in the US.

It has been alleged that Sharma sold government land at a cheaper rate to the Kutch-based Welspun Group when he was the collector of the district during 2003-04, which caused a loss to the tune of Rs 1.2 crore to the state exchequer.

The company, in return, allgedly made Shyamal, who lives abroad, a 30 per cent partner in one of its subsidiaries and extended benefits of Rs 29.5 lakh to her, the complain in the case in which she has been a co-accused mentions. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) invoked Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the matter in 2012 alleging that the money was first deposited in Shyamals overseas bank account and then transferred to his husbands account, in violation of the act. Gujarat anti-corruption bureau had arrested Sharma in this matter but he later got bail.

ACB had filed a petition in the Bhuj court seeking issuance of a summon to Shyamal in connection with the investigation of the case. But as the district court rejected its plea, it has moved High Court which today issued the notice to Shyamal which would be served to her through proper channel instructing her to come back to India and appear before the court on June 15.

– DeshGujarat