Ahmedabad: In a major development, IAS officer Rajendrakumar Patel, former collector of Gujarat’s Surendranagar district, has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a bribery-linked money laundering case, officials confirmed on Friday.
Background of the Arrest
Patel, a 2015-batch IAS officer, was transferred without a new posting just a week ago, following the arrest of a deputy mamlatdar from his office in a money laundering case connected to bribery.
A senior police official stated, “ED has arrested Patel in connection with a bribery-linked money laundering probe.”
Details of the Investigation
The ED is probing alleged money laundering activities involving the deputy mamlatdar, Chandrasingh Mori, and other individuals. The investigation was initiated following the registration of an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has also registered an FIR against Patel and three others based on a complaint filed by the ED in connection with the ongoing probe.
Allegations Against Deputy Mamlatdar Chandrasingh Mori
As deputy mamlatdar, Mori was responsible for title verification and processing of Change of Land Use (CLU) applications under the Saurashtra Gharkhed Tenancy Settlement and Agricultural Lands Ordinance, 1949.
According to the ED, Mori allegedly misused his position to collect bribes from applicants for speedy approval of applications. The bribes were reportedly calculated on a square-metre basis, indicating a systematic pattern of corruption.
Implications
The arrest of a senior IAS officer like Patel underscores the government’s ongoing crackdown on corruption and money laundering in public offices. The ED is expected to continue its investigation, and further action against other officials involved may follow.
Officials have not disclosed the total amount allegedly laundered or the number of applications affected, but the probe highlights systemic issues in land-use approvals in Gujarat.
