Gandhinagar: The Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) today confirmed that it has registered a case against the now-removed Surendranagar Collector, Dr. Rajendrakumar Patel, along with others, under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Addressing a press conference, ACB DIG Makrand Chauhan stated that following the recovery of unaccounted cash from Deputy Mamlatdar Chandrasinh Mori’s residence, a senior officer of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a complaint. “Based on this complaint, a case has been registered at the Surendranagar ACB police station against Surendranagar Collector Dr. Rajendrakumar Patel, his personal assistant Jayrajsinh Jhala, clerk Mayursinh Gohil, and Deputy Mamlatdar Chandrasinh Mori under Sections 7, 12, and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act,” he said.

On Tuesday, the ED arrested Chandrasinh Mori on allegations of running a money laundering racket and collecting bribes through systematic extortion to expedite Change of Land Use (CLU) applications in the district. Mori was produced before a special PMLA court in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, which sent him to ED custody until January 1. The ED had conducted search and seizure operations at his residences Tuesday evening in connection with another case.

Following the filing of the case, the state government transferred Patel, placing him at the disposal of the General Administration Department, and assigned the additional charge of Collector to District Development Officer K.S. Yagnik until further orders.

During searches, the ED recovered Rs 67.50 lakh from Mori’s residence. He admitted under PMLA provisions that the seized cash represented bribes collected directly or through intermediaries to expedite land-use applications. The ED added that he generated, acquired, possessed, and concealed crime proceeds exceeding Rs 1 crore. DeshGujarat