Gujarat IAS Officer Arrested in ₹67.5 Lakh Bribery Case: All You Need to Know
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Ahmedabad: In a shocking move, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Rajendrakumar Patel, a former IAS officer and former collector of Surendranagar district, in a bribery-linked money laundering case. Patel, a 2015 batch IAS officer, is the second civil servant to be arrested by the ED in this case. Patel's arrest comes after the ED seized ₹67.5 lakh in cash from the residence of Chandrasinh Mori, a deputy mamlatdar, and arrested him. The cash seizure led investigators to probe a larger arrangement of illegal collections linked to official work carried out from the collectorate. As the collector of Surendranagar, Patel had the final authority over land-use and other key revenue decisions processed through the collectorate. ED officials alleged that the accused collected bribes as "speed money" to expedite applications and even demanded money to speed up routine work. The agency claims that proceeds of crime exceeding ₹1 crore were generated through misuse of official position, and properties acquired from such proceeds are yet to be identified. The case has brought scrutiny on district-level administration, highlighting the need for greater transparency and accountability. Patel's arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the bribery case. As the ED continues to probe the matter, it remains to be seen how far-reaching the alleged scam is and what consequences Patel and others involved may face.
