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3h ago

Former IAS Officer Pradeep Sharma Sentenced to Five Years for Money Laundering

The PMLA court denied concurrency with his earlier five‑year term from a separate land case.

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The court held that IAS officer PradeepSharma, as district collector of Bhuj from 2003 to 2006, misused his office by allotting land to Welspun India Ltd. at rates far below the government rate. (Shutterstock)
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Overview

  • A special PMLA court in Ahmedabad convicted Pradeep Nirankarnath Sharma under Sections 3 and 4 of the PMLA and imposed a ₹50,000 fine.
  • The court ordered that properties earlier attached by the Enforcement Directorate, including a Gandhinagar house and agricultural land in Dehgam, be confiscated to the Union government.
  • Judges found that as Kutch district collector (2003–2006) he allotted government land to Welspun group firms at ₹15–₹18 per sq m versus the ₹78 rate, causing an estimated ₹1.2 crore loss.
  • ED evidence showed proceeds were routed through his wife, who held a 30% stake in Value Packaging without capital, with ₹22 lakh and ₹7.5 lakh identified as unlawful gains and even a company-paid SIM cited.
  • The order notes the funds repaid a housing loan and bought land and describes about ₹1 crore sent to the U.S. via hawala and deposits into his wife's U.S. account, while Sharma remains in custody following the verdict.