Gujarat ACB FIRs ex-Surendranagar collector in ED money laundering probe
Gujarat ACB FIRs ex-Surendranagar collector in ED money laundering probe
Gujarat authorities widen the ED money laundering case as ACB files a corruption FIR against the ex-collector and three aides after ₹67.5 lakh was seized.
Gujarat’s anti-corruption watchdog has taken a new turn in a high-profile graft case tied to the Enforcement Directorate’s money-laundering probe. The ACB has registered a corruption case against former Surendranagar district collector Rajendrakumar Patel, his personal assistant Jayrajsinh Jhala, clerk Mayursinh Gohil and deputy mamlatdar Chandrasinh Mori, after the ED recovered ₹67.5 lakh in cash from Mori’s residence and he was arrested in the money-laundering case.
The proceedings mark a widening of scrutiny at the district administration level, where officials control land-use permissions and other revenue decisions. The ACB said the case was registered on the basis of the ED’s complaint, and the investigation is ongoing. The ED had already filed an FIR against Patel and three associates on money-laundering charges.
Patel, a 2015 batch IAS officer, headed the Surendranagar district administration and exercised final authority over land-use and revenue decisions at the collectorate. His background includes a postgraduate degree in public policy and a dental surgery bachelor’s degree, with prior assignments across revenue and district administration.
Mori, posted at the Surendranagar district collector’s office, was arrested after investigators recovered ₹67.5 lakh from his home. He could not satisfactorily explain the source of the cash, prompting ED custody for eight days. The agency has indicated that the cash recovery points to a larger money-laundering network under investigation.
The combined actions of the ACB and ED are underscoring the federal and state push to tighten oversight of district administrations, particularly in areas around land approvals and revenue-related permissions. Officials said the investigations are still in progress and all aspects are being examined.
