Surendranagar: In a major development this morning, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Chandrasinh Bhupatsinh Mori, Deputy Mamlatdar and Executive Magistrate here, following extensive searches at multiple locations in the district on Tuesday. Mori is expected to be produced before a special court, where the law enforcement agency is expected to seek a 14-day remand.

ED officials conducted raids at the Surendranagar Collectorate, the residence of Collector Rajendra Patel, and the home of Deputy Mamlatdar Chandrasinh Mori in Wadhwan, among other locations on Tuesday. During searches at Mori’s residence, the ED reportedly recovered unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 67 lakh. He will now be probed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to ascertain the origin of these funds.

As per the remand application of the ED, bribes were systematically demanded and collected as “speed money” for processing applications without delay. The bribe amounts were pre-determined and calculated on a per-square-metre basis, depending on the nature of the application. Payments were reportedly routed through identified intermediaries, commission agents, and dalals, whose names, roles, and contact details were recorded by the accused.

During search proceedings conducted under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at the residential premises of Mori, ₹67.50 lakh in cash was recovered from his bedroom. In his statement recorded under Section 17 of the PMLA on 23 December 2025, Mori admitted that the seized cash represented bribe money demanded and collected by him, both directly and through intermediaries, from applicants seeking expedited or favorable processing of statutory land-use applications.

Meanwhile, the Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) confirmed that the ED had approached them regarding the unaccounted cash, after which the ACB registered a case. It is learnt that the investigation has revealed alleged disproportionate assets, with four individuals named in the complaint, including Surendranagar District Collector Rajendrakumar Patel, his personal assistant, Mori, and a private individual.

It is learnt that the ED had been keeping a close watch on Collector Patel after receiving a complaint alleging that a bribe was demanded for conversion of agricultural land to Non-Agricultural (NA) status.

Further investigation and legal proceedings are ongoing. No official statement regarding case details or items seized has been released as of this morning. Collector Rajendra Patel, a 2015-batch IAS officer, assumed charge as Surendranagar Collector in February 2025. DeshGujarat