An action by the enforcement department has exposed alleged deep-rooted corruption in the Surendranagar district administration, after central and state agencies seized Rs. 67.5 lakh in suspected bribe money from the home of a serving deputy mamlatdar.
The recovery, made during coordinated raids by the ED and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), has led to arrests, court proceedings, and administrative reshuffles, with investigators signalling that the inquiry could widen significantly.
The accused, Chandrasinh Mori, was taken into custody after ED officials conducted searches at the district collector’s office and the residences of select officials. The cash was reportedly found concealed in Mori’s bedroom. He was later produced before a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which remanded him to ED custody for custodial interrogation.
An FIR was registered by the ACB on Tuesday following a complaint filed by an ED deputy director. The ED has also lodged an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), stating that the investigation aims to identify the role of other public servants and intermediaries allegedly involved in the generation and sharing of illegal proceeds.
Investigators said the case stemmed from complaints by a corporate group that officials were demanding hefty bribes to expedite approvals for converting land from agricultural to non-agricultural use in Surendranagar. The allegations triggered verification and intelligence gathering, eventually leading to joint action by the ED and ACB. Sources claimed that such demands for “speed money” had been prevalent in the collectorate for a long period.
In its submissions before the court, the ED alleged that Mori was a central figure in a systematic extortion racket linked to land-use permissions under applicable land laws. As deputy mamlatdar and executive magistrate, Mori was authorised to verify and process change-of-land-use (CLU) applications. The agency claimed that bribe amounts were pre-fixed, calculated on a per-square-metre basis depending on the nature of the application, and routed through intermediaries.
Describing Mori as a “key person” in the alleged scheme, the ED said he had knowledge of how bribe money was collected, recorded and distributed. Investigators are probing claims that the total proceeds of crime may exceed ₹1 crore and are working to identify other officials who may have been part of the network.
During searches conducted under the PMLA, officials reportedly recovered loose sheets containing handwritten and printed details of land applications, applicant names, and amounts allegedly demanded and received as bribes. Digital evidence seized from Mori’s mobile phone, including WhatsApp chats and documents, is said to reveal detailed accounts of collections and their transmission to senior officials.
Meanwhile, the state government has removed Surendranagar collector Rajendra Patel from his post and kept him without a new assignment. Official sources said the move was taken to avoid further controversy and ensure a fair investigation. The district development officer has been given additional charge as collector. Authorities noted that if Patel is arrested by the ED or ACB, he would be placed under deemed suspension as per service rules.
During the court hearing, Mori’s counsel opposed the ED’s plea for extended remand, raising objections over procedural aspects of the search and arrest. The court, however, allowed custodial interrogation to enable investigators to trace the source of the seized cash and uncover the alleged wider conspiracy.
The unfolding case has cast a spotlight on alleged systemic corruption within the Surendranagar collectorate, with enforcement agencies indicating that further arrests and disclosures are possible as the investigation progresses.
Also Read: Gujarat: ED Arrests Deputy Mamlatdar In Surendranagar Land Scam Probe https://www.vibesofindia.com/gujarat-ed-arrests-deputy-mamlatdar-in-surendranagar-land-scam-probe/
