In a significant crackdown on alleged corruption in Gujarat, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested IAS officer Rajendrakumar Patel, the former Surendranagar district collector, in connection with a bribery-linked money laundering case. Patel was taken into custody from Gandhinagar on Thursday night and subsequently produced before a special PMLA judge at the Ahmedabad district court on Friday. He was granted remand until January 7, allowing the federal agency to continue its investigation into a sprawling network of alleged corrupt practices linked to land-use permissions and revenue matters in the Surendranagar district.
The arrest of Patel marks the latest development in a case that has already seen the detention of several officials. Prior to Patel’s arrest, the ED had apprehended deputy mamlatdar Chandrasinh Mori on December 23 for alleged money laundering tied to corrupt activities at the Surendranagar collectorate. During searches conducted at multiple locations associated with Mori, the agency recovered ₹67.5 lakh in cash, which Mori could not satisfactorily explain. Investigators considered the seized amount disproportionate to his known sources of income and treated it as proceeds of crime, allegedly accumulated through illicit gratification.
Following Mori’s arrest, the Gujarat government took precautionary administrative measures, transferring Patel without assigning him any new posting. Subsequently, the Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) registered a formal corruption case on December 25 against Patel, his personal assistant Jayrajsinh Jhala, clerk Mayursinh Gohil, and deputy mamlatdar Chandrasinh Mori. These steps were taken amid mounting evidence suggesting systematic bribery practices within the Surendranagar collectorate.
Officials aware of the investigation said that the probe by the ED was initiated after receiving inputs indicating that illegal gratifications were being collected in exchange for facilitating revenue-related and land-use permissions. These included files and applications processed through the district collectorate, where officials allegedly demanded bribes to expedite administrative work. Sources indicated that bribes were not limited to high-value permissions but were also reportedly extracted for routine file processing by deliberately delaying approvals and then soliciting “speed money” to accelerate the process.
During the remand proceedings, the ED informed the court that the recovery of cash from Mori and related searches suggested a larger systemic arrangement of illegal collections rather than isolated incidents by individual officers. According to the ED’s submissions, bribes were often demanded in a structured manner, with rates pre-fixed on a per-square-metre basis for change of land use (CLU) permissions. CLU permissions, which allow the conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes, are among the most sought-after approvals in the district due to rapid urbanization and real estate development.
The ED’s remand note detailed that approximately 50% of the bribes collected went to Patel as the final approving authority for land-use changes. Records of the collections were reportedly maintained meticulously in “hisaab” sheets by Patel’s personal assistant, Jayrajsinh Zala. Investigators have traced more than 800 CLU applications, with estimated proceeds of crime exceeding ₹10 crore. These findings suggest a large-scale, organized system of corruption operating from the collectorate over an extended period.
ACB officials involved in the case said that several files recovered from the collectorate are currently under examination. “It appears that bribes were also taken for routine work by deliberately holding up files that were otherwise moving in the normal course and then demanding money to expedite them,” an official stated. “At this stage, it is difficult to assess the full scale of the alleged scam, but preliminary investigations indicate a systematic pattern of extortion linked to official duties.”
The ED’s action against Patel and associated officials is being conducted under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which empowers the agency to investigate financial transactions arising from criminal activities. The agency’s focus is not only on recovering the proceeds of crime but also on dismantling the networks and mechanisms that facilitate such corruption. By securing Patel’s remand until January 7, the ED has ensured it has the necessary legal authority to conduct further searches, summon witnesses, and scrutinize financial records connected to the alleged illegal collections.
According to officials, the modus operandi employed in the Surendranagar collectorate involved intermediaries and personal assistants who coordinated the collection and distribution of bribes. Payments were routed through these intermediaries, while records were maintained to account for the inflows. The system reportedly extended to both routine and high-value applications, suggesting a deep-rooted culture of corruption in certain bureaucratic processes within the collectorate.
The case has attracted significant attention due to the involvement of a senior IAS officer, reflecting the broader challenge of curbing corruption in public offices. Over the past few years, the ED and ACB have intensified their scrutiny of revenue and land-related permissions across Gujarat, as the combination of high-value land transactions and discretionary power creates fertile ground for corrupt practices. Analysts note that arrests of high-ranking officials like Patel signal a shift toward accountability and stricter enforcement against systemic corruption within government institutions.
The ED’s investigation is expected to cover multiple dimensions, including the origin and utilization of bribe money, the chain of officials involved, and the extent to which corrupt practices affected land-use approvals and revenue-related administrative work. While Patel remains in custody, the agency is likely to expand its probe to other individuals and entities connected to the collectorate, as part of efforts to uncover the full network and quantify the total proceeds of crime.
The arrest also highlights the role of the ACB and the ED in coordinating investigations into corruption-related offenses. While the ACB registered the initial case under anti-corruption laws, the ED’s involvement brought the financial and money-laundering aspects of the case into focus. The collaboration between state and federal agencies ensures that both the illegal acts and the illicit financial gains arising from them are subject to legal scrutiny.
The alleged bribery in the Surendranagar collectorate raises broader concerns about administrative transparency and governance. Land-use permissions, revenue approvals, and other bureaucratic processes often involve discretionary decision-making, making them susceptible to manipulation. Experts emphasize the importance of digitization, transparency, and independent oversight to reduce opportunities for corruption. In this context, the ongoing investigation into Patel and his associates could serve as a case study for improving institutional checks and balancing discretionary power with accountability measures.
As the legal proceedings continue, Rajendrakumar Patel and the other accused officials face potential criminal charges, including corruption, money laundering, and criminal misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the PMLA. The next stages of the investigation will involve detailed examination of documents, verification of “hisaab” sheets, interviews with witnesses, and analysis of bank transactions and asset trails. Investigators have indicated that additional recoveries may be possible as the probe progresses.
In conclusion, the arrest of Gujarat IAS officer Rajendrakumar Patel underscores the persistent challenge of corruption in public administration and highlights the active role of enforcement agencies in addressing such practices. The scale of the alleged illegal collections in the Surendranagar collectorate, the involvement of intermediaries, and meticulous record-keeping by the accused point to an organized and systematic scheme of bribery. With estimated proceeds of crime exceeding ₹10 crore, the case not only exemplifies high-level bureaucratic corruption but also reinforces the need for vigilant monitoring, legal enforcement, and structural reforms to ensure transparency and accountability in public service. The ongoing investigation will be closely watched by citizens, policymakers, and law enforcement agencies, as it may set precedents for handling similar cases in the future and restoring public trust in administrative institutions.
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