ED file charges against former district registrar Bhopal in disproportionate assets case

Bhopal, Jan 20 (LatestNewsX) The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Bhopal Zonal Office, has filed a Prosecution Complaint (PC) against Sobaran Singh Apouriya, former Senior District Registrar, Bhopal, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

The complaint was submitted before the Special PMLA Court in Bhopal on January 19, 2026. A notice for pre-cognisance hearing has since been issued to the accused, the investigation agency has said.

The ED launched its investigation based on an FIR registered by the Special Police Establishment, Lokayukta Office, Bhopal, before the Special Court in Bhopal.

The FIR was filed against Apouriya under Section 13(1)(e) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, for possession of assets disproportionate to known sources of income, it said.

According to the ED’s findings, while serving as a public servant in the capacity of Senior District Registrar, Bhopal, Apouriya allegedly abused his official position to amass assets valued at Rs. 97,13,289 that were grossly disproportionate to his known and lawful sources of income.

This accumulation constituted substantial Proceeds of Crime (PoC) generated from the scheduled corruption offence. The probe further revealed that Apouriya was the direct beneficiary of these proceeds and committed money laundering in relation to them.

During the relevant check period, by misusing his authority, he accumulated illicit wealth and subsequently devised a deliberate mechanism to retain, conceal, and enjoy the proceeds while attempting to obscure their true ownership.

Investigators found that Apouriya knowingly acquired, possessed, concealed, and used the Proceeds of Crime, projecting them as untainted. He allegedly routed illicit cash through multiple bank accounts held in the names of family members and converted the funds into various financial instruments and properties to give them a legitimate appearance, the agency said.

This established the offence of money laundering under Section 3 of the PMLA, 2002, which is punishable under Section 4 of the Act. The case underscores central agencies’ continued crackdown on corruption among public officials, particularly in revenue and registration departments, where opportunities for abuse of power exist.

The Lokayukta’s initial probe into disproportionate assets paved the way for the ED to pursue the money laundering angle, aiming to trace and attach ill-gotten gains, it said.

The matter is now before the Special PMLA Court in Bhopal, where proceedings will determine the next course of action, including potential confirmation of any attachments and trial on the charges.

sktr/dan