In a significant development that sent shockwaves through Gujarat's administrative circles, officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday carried out extensive search operations targeting the Surendranagar district collectorate and the residences of senior bureaucrats. The raids, which began in the early morning hours, continued late into the evening, keeping the state's power corridors abuzz with speculation.
High-Profile Searches Target Top Bureaucrats
The federal agency's teams simultaneously searched the Surendranagar collector office, the residence of Collector Rajendra Patel, and the home of Deputy Mamlatdar Chandrasinh Mori in Wadhwan. Sources indicate that the operation was of such a scale that ED officials from offices outside Gujarat were also mobilized to assist. Throughout the day, ED vehicles remained stationed outside the premises of officials connected to the collectorate, signaling the seriousness of the probe.
Rajendra Patel, a 2015-batch IAS officer, had taken charge as the Surendranagar collector only in February of this year. The simultaneous targeting of his official residence and office marks a rare and high-profile action against a serving district magistrate. Both the ED and the state government maintained a strict silence on the immediate trigger for the searches, fueling intense speculation among bureaucrats, or 'babudom', all day.
Money Laundering Angle and ACB Complaint
As the ED's jurisdiction primarily involves investigating offenses under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), sources suggest the raids are linked to a potential case involving senior officials. A crucial piece of evidence emerged when Gujarat's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) confirmed that the ED had approached them with a complaint regarding unaccounted cash discovered at one of the searched premises.
A senior ACB official stated, "The application is received, and a complaint about the same will be filed soon." This direct link to alleged unexplained wealth forms a core part of the unfolding investigation. While no official communique was released by the ED until late evening regarding seized valuables or specific case details, the ACB's confirmation points towards a tangible financial irregularity.
Bureaucratic Shockwaves and Unconfirmed Triggers
The sudden action created a wave of anxiety within Gujarat's bureaucracy. Unofficial local chatter suggested that the state revenue department had recently written to the Surendranagar collector seeking the transfer of Deputy Mamlatdar Chandrasinh Mori, though this remained unconfirmed. There was also widespread talk of a pending complaint against top officials in the district, but no concrete details surfaced publicly.
The prolonged nature of the searches, lasting from morning to night, underscored the operation's thoroughness. The involvement of out-of-state ED teams further highlighted its classified and high-priority nature. The development puts a spotlight on governance and alleged corruption within the state's administrative machinery, with the promise of more details emerging as the PMLA investigation progresses.
