New Delhi: The Gujarat High Court has sought a response from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the regular bail application of suspended IAS officer Rajendrakumar Mahendrabhai Patel, who faces allegations of corruption and money laundering linked to Change of Land Use (CLU) approvals during his tenure as Collector of Surendranagar.
The case is listed for further hearing on 10 April 2026, after Patel approached the High Court following the rejection of his bail plea by a special PMLA court on 12 March 2026.
Suspended IAS Officer Rajendrakumar Patel: Arrest and Allegations
Patel, a 2015-batch IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre, was arrested by the ED on 2 January 2026 in connection with an alleged bribery racket involving CLU permissions.
Special PMLA Court Earlier Rejected Bail
Before moving to the High Court, Patel had filed for regular bail in a special PMLA court, which refused relief after reviewing evidence including:
- Accounting sheets allegedly recording bribe transactions
- Shared WhatsApp “hisaab” records
- Statements recorded under Section 50 of PMLA
- Affidavit of the investigating officer
The court noted that prima facie evidence did not support the claim that Patel was uninvolved in money laundering, stating:
“Having considered the nature of evidence as revealed from the complaint and case papers, affidavit of investigating officer, hisaab sheets, shared WhatsApp hisaab sheets among the accused persons, statements of various persons under Section 50 of PMLA, this court cannot form prima facie opinion that the applicant is not guilty of having committed/indulged in offence of money laundering.”
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ED Claims ₹3.12 Crore as Patel’s Alleged Share
The Enforcement Directorate alleges that Patel received over ₹3.12 crore as his 50% share in bribes collected through land-use approval processing. Key findings include:
- ₹67.50 lakh cash recovered from a subordinate
- Seized accounting sheets documenting illegal collections
- Bribes systematically collected during land conversion processing
Investigators claim these records directly link Patel to proceeds of crime.
Alleged Fixed Rate for Land Conversion Approvals
The case centers on allegations that Patel institutionalized a structured bribe mechanism while serving as District Collector.
Alleged Rate Structure:
- ₹5 per square metre
- ₹10 per square metre for faster processing
Officials suspect this “rate card” was applied to hundreds of applications, with more than 800 CLU applications under investigation, estimating illegal proceeds over ₹10 crore.
Alleged Sharing Arrangement:
- 50% to Rajendrakumar Patel
- Remaining shared among intermediaries and other officials
Patel Claims Innocence, Cites Clean Service Record
Patel has denied wrongdoing, highlighting his spotless administrative record over the past decade:
- No prior corruption allegations
- Cooperation with investigators
- Maintained a clean career in Gujarat administration
However, the court held that evidence on record required deeper scrutiny before considering bail.
Who Is Rajendrakumar Patel?
Personal and Educational Background:
- Born: 23 August 1985, Dumana village, Viramgam taluka, Ahmedabad district
- Qualifications: Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), Master of Arts in Public Policy
UPSC Journey:
- Cleared Civil Services Exam in 2014
- All India Rank: 70
- Optional Subject: Gujarati Literature
- Joined IAS: 7 September 2015
Administrative Career Before Arrest
Before suspension, Patel held several key positions in Gujarat:
- Assistant Collector, Talaja, Bhavnagar
- District Development Officer, Sabarkantha & Vadodara
- Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Surat Municipal Corporation
- District Collector, Surendranagar (appointed 4 February 2025)
Following his arrest on 2 January 2026, the Government of Gujarat suspended him on 5 January 2026, making it one of the state’s most high-profile bureaucratic corruption cases in recent years.
Next Hearing Scheduled on April 10
The Gujarat High Court will hear the matter on 10 April 2026, when the Enforcement Directorate is expected to present its formal response. The hearing may determine whether Patel receives interim relief or remains in judicial custody as the money laundering investigation continues.
