WORST PRACTICES

Rajendrakumar Patel (IAS, Gujarat)

The Arrest: On January 2, 2026, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Rajendrakumar Patel, a 2015-batch officer and former District Collector of Surendranagar.

• • The “Speed Money” Scam: Investigations revealed a systematic bribe mechanism for Change of Land Use (CLU)
    • The Rates: Bribes were allegedly fixed at ₹5 to ₹10 per square meter of land.
    • The Trail: The ED recovered spreadsheets and WhatsApp chats detailing 68 specific applicants, broker names, and a “profit” split where 50% of the bribe allegedly went directly to the Collector.
  • Evidence: During raids, ₹67.50 lakh in cash was found hidden in a deputy official’s bed. The deputy (Chandrasinh Mori) reportedly named Patel as the primary beneficiary.
  • Administrative Action: Following the arrest, the Gujarat government placed Patel under suspension on January 5, 2026.

Vijay Singh Dahiya (IAS, Haryana)

The Outcome: In a significant legal victory for the officer, a Panchkula court discharged Vijay Singh Dahiya from a corruption case on January 20, 2026.

• • The Background: Dahiya (2001 batch) had been arrested in 2023 by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in a ₹5 lakh bribery case related to the Haryana Skill Development Mission.
  • Reason for Discharge: The Haryana government declined to grant sanction for his prosecution. The state argued that the ACB failed to establish any direct exchange of graft money and had bypassed Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act (which requires prior approval before investigating an officer).
  • Current Status: Simultaneously with the legal clearance, Dahiya was promoted to Principal Secretary in early January 2026.

The ₹550-Crore Bank Fraud (Haryana)

While the suspension orders for these officers were finalized in April 2026, the investigation focused on their activities through January 2026:

• • Officers Involved: Ram Kumar Singh (2012 batch) and Pradeep Kumar (2011 batch).
  • The Allegations: Siphoning off government funds into private shell companies using accounts in IDFC First and AU Small Finance Bank.
  • January Connection: Ram Kumar Singh served as the Panchkula Municipal Commissioner until January 28, 2026, a window during which the CBI alleges significant misappropriation of urban local body funds took place.