Overview
- Former Surendranagar collector Rajendrakumar Patel, a 2015-batch IAS officer, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a bribery-linked money laundering investigation.
- Patel was picked up from his residence and produced before a Special PMLA court in Ahmedabad (Rural), which granted the ED custody until January 7 after the agency sought 10 days.
- The Gujarat ACB registered an FIR naming Patel, his personal assistant Jayrajsinh Jhala, clerk Mayursinh Gohil and deputy mamlatdar Chandrasinh Mori, acting on an ED complaint.
- The probe follows the December 23 arrest of Mori, from whose home the ED recovered ₹67.5 lakh that the agency says represented bribe collections tied to official work.
- Investigators allege bribes were taken to expedite CLU applications on a per-square-metre basis and say proceeds may exceed ₹1 crore, with files and potential assets under examination.