Archive · 4 Jan 2026
Gujarat IAS Officer Arrested for Bribery in Land Use Changes
An IAS officer named Rajendrakumar Patel and his colleague Chandrasinh Mori were arrested for taking bribes.
They were taking money to speed up applications for changing land use from agricultural to non-agricultural.
The bribes were fixed at Rs 5-10 per square metre.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) found that over 800 applications were involved, generating more than Rs 10 crore in illegal money.
They also found expensive items in Patel's home that he couldn't explain.
The ED found messages on phones showing how the bribes were collected and shared.
Patel's defence says his arrest was illegal and there's no proof of money laundering.
Former collector Rajendrakumar Patel and deputy mamlatdar Chandrasinh Mori were arrested for systematic bribery in land use change applications.
Bribe rates were fixed at Rs 5-10 per square metre, with over 800 applications involved, generating more than Rs 10 crore in illegal proceeds.
The ED found digital evidence of bribe collections and their periodic transmission to Patel's personal assistant.
Mori admitted to collecting bribes and named Patel as a beneficiary of half the bribes, with intermediaries taking 10% and the rest distributed among other officials.
Patel's defence argues that his arrest was illegal and there is no unbroken money trail linking him to the crimes.
- Who
- Rajendrakumar Patel, a 2015-batch IAS officer, and Chandrasinh Mori, a Deputy Mamlatdar & Executive Magistrate
- What
- Alleged systematic bribery for expediting land use change applications
- When
- Arrests and investigations occurred in December 2025 and January 2025
- Where
- Surendranagar district, Gujarat, India
- Why
- To expedite change of land use applications and generate proceeds of crime
- Arrested Officer
- Rajendrakumar Patel (2015-batch IAS officer)
- Co-Accused
- Chandrasinh Mori (Deputy Mamlatdar & Executive Magistrate)
- Bribe Rates
- Rs 5-10 per square metre
- Proceeds of Crime
- More than Rs 10 crore
- Arrest Date
- January 2, 2025
- Remand Period
- Until January 7, 2025
- Seized Cash
- Rs 67.50 lakh from Mori's residence
- Key Witness
- Chetan Kanzaria (admitted paying Rs 65 lakh in bribes)
- Bribe Distribution
- 50% to Patel, 10% to intermediary, rest to other officials
