Ahmedabad, Gujarat – The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its investigation into alleged large-scale bribery and money laundering involving Rajendrakumar Patel, a 2015-batch IAS officer and former Surendranagar collector, following revelations of systematic “speed money” demands for Change of Land Use (CLU) approvals. The ED has told a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ahmedabad that Patel, along with a network of intermediaries, allegedly extracted bribes of ₹5 to ₹10 per square metre, generating proceeds of crime exceeding ₹10 crore across more than 800 CLU applications.

The central agency secured Patel’s custodial remand till January 7 after presenting evidence in court indicating his role as the key beneficiary of the alleged scheme. ED officials said that bribes were not only demanded and collected systematically but were also meticulously recorded, with detailed “hisaab” accounts maintained and shared digitally via WhatsApp and other electronic means.

According to the ED’s remand application, Patel, as district collector of Surendranagar at the time, had exclusive authority over CLU approvals under the Saurashtra Gharkhed, Tenancy Settlement and Agricultural Lands Ordinance, 1949, and the Gujarat Land Revenue Code, 1879. This authority enabled him to control both the pace and outcome of CLU applications, effectively positioning him to extract “speed money” from applicants seeking approvals.

Alleged Modus Operandi: Fixed Rates and Sharing Mechanism

Investigators described a detailed scheme in which bribe rates were pre-fixed depending on the size and type of CLU application. For each square metre of land, applicants were allegedly required to pay ₹5 to ₹10 as a “facilitation fee” to expedite approvals. Digital evidence, including WhatsApp messages, PDF files, and photographs, reportedly captured accounts of the bribe collections and periodic updates to the collector’s personal assistant, Jayrajsinh Zala.

The ED alleges that the distribution of bribe proceeds followed a fixed-sharing arrangement. Of the total collected, 50 percent allegedly went directly to Patel, while ten percent was retained by an intermediary. The remaining amount was purportedly shared among other officials, including the resident additional collector, a mamlatdar, and clerical staff in the collectorate. Statements recorded under the PMLA framework appear to support this systematic sharing mechanism.

Chetan Kanzaria, whose statement was cited by the ED, allegedly confirmed that the prevailing rate for CLU approvals was ₹10 per square metre and admitted to paying approximately ₹65 lakh in bribes to the Surendranagar collectorate for approvals. Mori, a deputy mamlatdar arrested earlier in connection with the case, reportedly told investigators that he handed the collector’s share collected from applicants to Zala, who then passed it on to Patel.

Digital Trail of Bribery

The ED emphasized the role of digital evidence in piecing together the alleged racket. Mobile phones recovered from the involved officials reportedly contained WhatsApp messages, photographs, and PDF files documenting bribe collections and their periodic accounting. Messages retrieved from Mori’s device allegedly indicate that the network of intermediaries and officials operated strictly according to the collector’s instructions, further strengthening the ED’s case.

The agency also pointed to potential money laundering through property and personal accounts. It claimed that although Patel had purchased a flat in Ahmedabad in his name, the rental income was directed to his mother’s bank account. Furthermore, the ED suggested that household expenses, including his children’s school fees, were reportedly met using unaccounted cash, underscoring the alleged concealment and layering of illicit proceeds.

Scope of the Alleged Scam

According to the ED, the investigation has traced more than 800 CLU applications in which bribes were allegedly paid, forming part of a larger network of money laundering. The total proceeds of crime from these transactions are estimated to exceed ₹10 crore, with further layers of funds still under investigation. Authorities maintain that custodial interrogation of Patel is crucial to fully map out the flow of bribe money and the role of various officials involved in the racket.

Patel was transferred from his position as collector only about a week prior to the ED’s arrest of deputy mamlatdar Chandrasingh Mori. The timing of these transfers has attracted attention, with investigators scrutinizing whether the reshuffle was related to ongoing investigations or routine administrative decisions.

ED’s Case Before the Court

In its remand application submitted to the special PMLA court in Ahmedabad on January 2, the ED stressed the systematic and premeditated nature of the alleged bribery. The agency highlighted that bribes were collected as “speed money” to accelerate approvals, with all amounts meticulously recorded and transmitted to Patel through intermediaries. The remand application also detailed how the layering, concealment, and integration of illicit funds are being examined as part of the money laundering investigation.

The court subsequently remanded Patel to ED custody until January 7, allowing the agency to continue its interrogation and further probe into the network of officials and intermediaries implicated in the scheme.

Implications and Context

If substantiated, the case against Patel represents one of the more significant examples of alleged systemic corruption within the Indian civil service, particularly in the administration of land use and regulatory approvals. CLU approvals are critical for converting agricultural land to non-agricultural purposes, including commercial and residential development, and have long been recognized as high-risk areas for corruption due to the discretionary powers vested in officials.

Experts note that the alleged “speed money” system in Surendranagar highlights the vulnerabilities in governance mechanisms when oversight is weak, and officials wield unchecked authority. By establishing a network of intermediaries and maintaining digital records of bribe collections, the alleged perpetrators appear to have created a sophisticated scheme designed to ensure accountability among themselves while simultaneously concealing the flow of illicit funds.

The ED’s case also underscores the increasing role of digital forensics in uncovering corruption. Messages, PDFs, and photographs stored on mobile phones and transmitted via messaging apps have provided investigators with a trail of evidence, demonstrating both the scale and systematic nature of the alleged operation.

Next Steps in the Investigation

The ED has indicated that the custodial interrogation of Patel is essential for uncovering additional layers of the money laundering network, including the identification of other officials and intermediaries who may have participated in or facilitated the scheme. The agency is also investigating the potential diversion of bribe proceeds into properties, personal accounts, and other financial instruments, which could further expand the scope of the PMLA case.

As the investigation progresses, the Ahmedabad PMLA court will continue to monitor the custodial proceedings, ensuring that Patel’s interrogation is conducted under legal safeguards. Investigators are expected to file additional charges if further evidence substantiates the allegations of systematic bribery and money laundering.

Conclusion

The Enforcement Directorate’s probe into Rajendrakumar Patel and his alleged “speed money” network in Surendranagar sheds light on a sophisticated and systematic bribery racket embedded within the bureaucratic framework. With over 800 CLU applications allegedly tainted by illicit payments, digital evidence documenting transactions, and a structured sharing mechanism among officials, the case underscores both the scale and complexity of alleged corruption in regulatory processes.

While Patel is in ED custody, investigators are pursuing a multi-pronged approach to map the flow of bribe money, identify additional beneficiaries, and uncover any hidden assets or attempts to launder illicit proceeds. The outcome of this investigation could have broader implications for civil service accountability, anti-corruption enforcement, and procedural reforms in land use administration across Gujarat and other Indian states.

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