Bhopal: A major administrative controversy in Madhya Pradesh ended on November 7, 2025, after the General Administration Department (GAD) officially acquitted IAS officer Ajay Katesaria in a five-year-old land scam case involving more than 40 acres of government land in Satna.
The case, which began under the previous Shivraj Singh Chouhan government, accused Katesaria of transferring government land to private individuals during his tenure as Collector of Satna from February 2020 to December 2021.
Two Opposite Reports from the Same Office
What has sparked debate in bureaucratic and political circles is that the Rewa Commissioner’s office submitted two conflicting reports –
- First report (Under Shivraj govt): Found Katesaria guilty → Charge sheet issued
- Second report (Under Mohan Yadav govt): Declared him completely innocent
This dramatic U-turn in findings led to his final acquittal.
Allegations: Government Land Transferred to Private Parties
Katesaria faced allegations of:
- Removing the word “Government” from revenue records in several cases
- Transferring 36 acres of government land in Majhgawan Tehsil to private individuals
- Declaring Nazul land as private in multiple instances
Approving transfers of land in Kalgawan and Sonoura villages in violation of procedures
These allegations prompted the Shivraj government to transfer him from Satna in December 2021 and initiate a departmental probe.
Commissioner’s Initial Report Found Serious Irregularities
Former Rewa Commissioner Anil Suchari conducted an extensive inquiry and held Katesaria responsible for:
- Wrongful land transfers
- Misuse of authority
- Manipulation of revenue records
Based on this, GAD issued a charge sheet on March 30, 2022, and sought his written reply.
Shivraj’s Warning on Public Stage
Such was the intensity of the case that former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan publicly criticized the Satna collector without naming him.
During a speech on April 10, 2022, he said, “The former collector privatized government land worth crores. I will not spare the dishonest.”
His statement indicated possible strict action ahead.
Katesaria’s Tenure Marked by Controversy and Anti-Mafia Actions
Ironically, much of Katesaria’s tenure gained attention for reclaiming encroached government land, including –
- A 2-acre plot near the old collectorate
- Land linked to former minister Rajendra Kumar Singh
- Property of the Block Congress office
- Land declared as belonging to a minister in the Shivraj cabinet
These aggressive anti-land-mafia actions reportedly created friction with political actors on both sides.
How the Case Took a Dramatic Turn
After being removed, the new collector reopened files, and the investigation slowed. When Katesaria submitted a detailed response to the charge sheet, the GAD – following procedure – sent the matter again to the Rewa Commissioner for review.
By then, Dr. Mohan Yadav had taken over as Chief Minister.
This time, the Commissioner’s office –
- Accepted Katesaria’s arguments
- Overturned the earlier findings
- Recommended no action
Katesaria’s Defense That Turned the Case
In his reply, the IAS officer argued –
- The disputed orders were passed in compliance with Board of Revenue and court decisions
- The authority to correct land records belonged to the Tehsildar, not the Collector
- Revenue Department responses in the Assembly had validated his earlier actions
- He acted only to correct technical discrepancies
- The first report by the Rewa Commissioner was “malicious” and factually incorrect
The second review accepted these claims.
Final GAD Order: Allegations Not Proven
On November 7, 2025, the GAD issued its final decision –
- “The allegations against IAS Ajay Katesaria are not proven.”
- With this, the officer received a complete clean chit.
