The special police establishment of Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta early on Thursday morning launched a raid and seized `38 lakh in cash and about two kg of gold within a few hours of starting the search and seizure operation at the residence of the director of state health services, Dr A.N. Mittal.
In a simultaneous raid at the residence of Ganesh Prasad Kirar, a junior auditor in the state directorate of health services, the Lokayukta police seized `10 lakh in cash. At the time of filing this report, the search and seizure operation was continuing. The state government has suspended both officers.
The divisional superintendent of Lokayukta Siddhartha Choudhary told this newspaper that after preliminary investigation, an FIR was registered against Dr Mittal on Wednesday.
During the raid at Dr, Mittal’s residence, the Lokaykta sleuths found bundles of brand new currency, stuffed tightly in all kinds of boxes and containers, including medicine cartons. Every nook and corner of his plush bedroom had been used for storing the cash. Besides two kg of gold, the Lokayukta sleuths have also seized huge amount of foreign currency (about $1000) from Dr Mittal’s residence.
The Lokayukta SP said that they are yet to open Dr Mittal’s bank lockers. The final details about his unacounted wealth would be available only after his bank lockers are opened, he added.