Gujarat HC denies bail to suspended IAS officer in money laundering-linked bribery case | India News
Justice Hasmukh D Suthar, in an order dated June 29, said that Patel had failed to satisfy the conditions for bail under Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), observing that there were “no reasonable grounds to believe he was not guilty” of the offence. The court said that economic offences such as money laundering adversely affect the country’s economic and social fabric and therefore require a different approach while considering bail. HT has reviewed a copy of the 48-page order. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged that Patel, a 2015-batch IAS officer who served as Surendranagar Collector from February 2025, headed an organised bribery network for processing change of land use (CLU) applications.
Explanation in simple terms: A high court judge in Gujarat has refused to release an IAS officer named Patel on bail. Patel is accused of taking bribes and laundering money through illegal land deals. The judge said money laundering cases are serious crimes that harm the country's economy, so bail shouldn't be granted easily. The investigation agency believes Patel ran a bribery scheme while working as a district official.