ગુજરાતી
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Former royal land dispute a contributing factor
Ahmedabad
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted an investigation into a multi-crore scam involving land transactions and non-agricultural approvals in Surendranagar district on December 23, 2025, starting at 5 AM. Five people were involved, including Collector Rajendrakumar M. Patel, Deputy Mamlatdar Chandrasinh Mori, Collector’s PA Ravirajsinh Jhala, clerk Mayursinh Gohil, and High Court lawyer D. Chetan Kanjariya. The investigation continued at the homes of these five individuals until 10 PM. The ED was investigating money laundering. The ED team included officers from Maharashtra, Delhi, and Bengaluru.
The operation was conducted at two separate locations, Wadhwan and Surendranagar. The operation began in the morning with eight vehicles and a police force.
Remand was granted until January 1st.
Officers and a person named Soni were also summoned.
Complaint in Delhi
Clues emerged during the investigation of an extortion complaint filed with the Delhi Police that this scam was linked to officials in Gujarat, based on which this major operation was launched.
A sheet was recovered. Papers containing the names of commission agents/brokers were found.
Solar Companies
A scam is suspected in the allocation of land to solar companies.
100 Files
The search operation at the Collector’s house lasted for 17 hours. The ED seized 100 files from Collector Rajendra Kumar’s bungalow. An investigation into land corruption was initiated against Collector Dr. Rajendra Patel. A complaint had been filed with the Anti-Corruption Bureau against Surendranagar Collector Rajendra Patel in a Rs 1500 crore land scam.
Land
The large-scale land acquisition for solar plants in Nal Sarovar, Malvan of Dhrangadhra, Talsana of Lakhtar, and Patdi after the Collector took charge was cited as a reason for the investigation. The Collector used to take files home to manage them. When the ED investigated the benami property case, they found approximately 70 to 75 bighas of land registered in the name of Collector Dr. Rajendra Kumar M. Patel in Dumna and Mosal Viramgam’s Vatan Mandal, according to online government applications. The Vatan tent was also investigated that day. The Collector owns a flat in Ahmedabad and land worth five crore rupees in other locations. Dr. Rajendra Kumar M. Patel, who passed the IAS exam in the 2015 batch, became the Collector of Surendranagar in February after serving in Himmatnagar and Surat.
Hirasar Airport 800 crore rupee land scam. From gun licenses to multi-crore deals for signatures of corrupt officials, Surendranagar in Gujarat has become the epicenter of corruption.
Collector’s Transfer
The Gujarat government transferred Collector Dr. Rajendra Kumar Patel. His duties were assigned to the General Administration Department until further orders. Surendranagar District Development Officer K.S. Yagnik was given additional charge of the Collector’s post. This came into effect from December 24, 2025.
Dr. Rajendra Patel
Collector Dr. Rajendra Patel is a 2015 batch IAS officer. On February 1, 2025, Rajendra Kumar Mahendrabhai Patel was transferred from his position as Deputy Municipal Commissioner of Surat and appointed as the Collector of Surendranagar by Bhupendra Patel. He was also given additional charge of the Regional Commissioner of Surat Municipality.
ED
The ED informed the court that during the investigation of an extortion complaint filed with the Delhi Police, incriminating documents were found against the accused. Details emerged in the statement recorded under Section 17 of the PMLA.
Against whom the complaint was filed:
Dr. Rajendra Kumar Patel – District Collector, Surendranagar
Chandrasinh Mori – Deputy Mamlatdar, Surendranagar
Jayrajsinh Zala – P.A., District Collector
Mayursinh Gohil – Clerk, Collector’s Office
Modus Operandi of the Scam
A large network of illegal land NA (Non-Agricultural) conversions was operating through middlemen and agents. It has been revealed that employees of the Surendranagar Collector’s office were involved in the land NA conversions. The NA scam was executed through a planned, illegal scheme involving bribery and extortion. This scam was carried out through applications filed under CLU (Change of Land Use). Deputy Mamlatdar Chandrasinh Mori had the authority related to land NA (Non-Agricultural) conversions, which he misused. Money was taken for processing land NA applications. This money was used as “speed money” to expedite the process and avoid delays in the applications. The amount was fixed per square meter based on the application. This money was routed to the officials through intermediaries.
Notes on financial transactions and documents related to land NA conversions were found on WhatsApp.
Documents related to actions taken after receiving bribes were also recovered. Details, including accounts of money received and given, were also found on mobile phones. To avoid delays in applications, a systematic NA scam, involving the use of “speed money,” was being run as an extortion racket at the Surendranagar Collector’s office.
Court
He was produced before the Special Court of Ahmedabad Rural Court, and a 14-day remand was sought. Rs. 67.50 lakh in cash was recovered from Mori’s house. The ED arrested him. The ED had sought a 14-day remand from the Special Court of Ahmedabad Rural Court for interrogation and evidence collection. District Judge K.M. Sojitra ordered Deputy Mamlatdar Chandrasinh Bhupatsinh Mori to be sent on remand until January 1, 2026.
The ED’s Special Advocates were Rajesh Kanani and Aniruddh Khambhoj.
NA Branch
Three days ago, Collector Rajendra Patel suddenly shut down the NA (Non-Agricultural) branch.
Deputy Mamlatdar Chandrasinh Mori, clerk Mayursinh Gohil, and a peon were immediately transferred. The transfer decision was taken after reprimands from higher authorities. This information had reached the Collector earlier.
This further deepened the suspicion.
Land Dispute
The applicant had filed a complaint with the PMO office and the Vigilance Committee regarding land acquisition and land scams in some rural areas of Dasada, Lakhtar, and Chotila talukas, as the matter was not resolved at the local level.
Vidi Dispute
An investigation has been initiated into suspected corruption in the land case of Balbhadra Singh of Lakhtar. Fraud is suspected in the land dispute involving Balbhadra Singh’s family. The family’s land dispute has been pending in court for 3 years. The Lakhtar estate owns more than 3,600 bighas of land in the Thana Vidi area. This case has been pending in court since 2023. The District Collector’s PA is Jayraj Singh Lakhtar. It is suspected that names were added to the survey numbers of land worth crores of rupees in this video.
Chandra Mori
Chandrasinh Mori was appointed as a clerk. He had been working as a Deputy Mamlatdar in the Revenue Department for about two and a half to three years. A search was conducted at the house of Deputy Mamlatdar Chandrasinh Mori in Rawalwas, Wadhwan. The ED arrested Deputy Mamlatdar Chandrasinh Mori.
Chandrasinh Mori had the authority for land NA (Non-Agricultural) conversions, and more than 50 land plots were found at Mori’s house.
Under Section 17 of the PMLA, the ED found Rs. 67.50 lakh in cash hidden in the bedroom of Deputy Mamlatdar and Executive Magistrate Chandrasinh Bhupatsinh Mori’s house. The statement clearly admitted that the seized cash was bribe money, demanded and collected from applicants, either directly or through intermediaries, for the quick or favorable disposal of legal land-use applications.
Bribery Offense
A complaint was filed with the ACB against Collector, Deputy Mamlatdar Chandrasinh Mori, clerk Mayursinh Gohil, and the Collector’s PA Jayrajsinh Jhala.
