In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested senior IAS officer Rajendrakumar Patel from Gandhinagar. The arrest is linked to a recently busted money laundering case connected to a bribery racket operating within the Surendranagar district collector office.
The Arrest and Court Proceedings
The federal probe agency produced the accused officer before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ahmedabad. The ED sought a 10-day custodial interrogation for Patel. They argued that this time was essential to investigate crucial information, including the alleged fixing of commission rates for granting approvals to change land use from agricultural to non-agricultural purposes.
The agency also informed the court that their probe suggested the accused had amassed illegal wealth exceeding Rs 10 crore through this scheme. After hearing the arguments, Judge K M Sojitra ordered that Rajendrakumar Patel be sent to ED remand until January 7.
Details of the Bribery Racket
In its detailed remand application submitted to the court, the ED referenced statements from co-accused individuals involved in the Surendranagar district collectorate racket. According to these statements, a fixed bribe amount was demanded for providing speedy approvals to applications seeking change of land use (NA permissions).
The ED's application made a startling revelation about the distribution of the illicit money. It asserted that Collector Rajendrakumar Patel used to receive a 50% share of the total bribe collected. The remaining half was reportedly distributed among other officers involved in the corrupt network.
Modus Operandi and Evidence
The agency further quoted another accused who stated that Patel's Personal Assistant (PA) was actively involved in the collection process. The PA allegedly collected the bribe money on behalf of the IAS officer and later handed over the entire sum to him.
Investigators have reportedly traced a 'hisaab sheet' or accounting ledger of the bribe money, prepared by one of the accused. This document has become a key piece of evidence. From this ledger, the ED has traced approximately 800 applications for NA permissions. The estimated total bribe amount generated from these applications is a staggering Rs 10 crore.
Implications and Ongoing Probe
The arrest of a senior bureaucrat has sent shockwaves through the state's administrative circles. It highlights the alleged deep-rooted corruption in the process of granting land-use change approvals, a critical area with significant financial implications. The ED's custodial remand until January 7 will be used to confront the officer with evidence, uncover the full money trail, and identify other potential beneficiaries and assets acquired through the proceeds of crime.
This case underscores the ongoing crackdown by central agencies on corruption within state government offices, particularly those dealing with lucrative land and construction-related clearances.
