Overview

• Enforcement Directorate teams conducted coordinated searches on August 5 at eight locations tied to retired IAS officer Sewali Devi Sharma and her associates.
• Investigators are probing alleged money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, focusing on diversion of SCERT program fees and acquisition of disproportionate assets.
• Officials claim Sharma opened five solo-signatory bank accounts in violation of FRBM rules and spent over ₹105 crore without government approval.
• The probe examines irregular contracts awarded without competitive tenders to entities linked to her family and a chartered accountant.
• The ED action follows a May 2023 FIR on Special Vigilance Cell recommendations, her 2023 Rajasthan arrest for ₹5.7 crore undisclosed assets, and Supreme Court bail in March.