In a move to remove officers facing corruption allegations, disciplinary proceedings and serious misconduct, Gujarat government compulsorily retired two Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, K Rajesh and Gaurav Dahiya.
The Gujarat government's action against the two officers comes as part of its continuing review of officials facing disciplinary and integrity-related proceedings under the exercise referred to as “Operation Gangajal”.
Rajesh, a 2011-batch officer who was under suspension, was retired in view of criminal investigations and proceedings against him in cases involving alleged bribery, illegal land allotments and money laundering. He has been forced to retire at the age of 40 with 20 years of service left.
Dahiya, a 2010-batch officer serving as additional development commissioner in Gandhinagar, was also compulsorily retired following disciplinary proceedings and inquiries into allegations of misconduct. He has been retired at the age of 42 with 18 years of service left.
Rajesh was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2022 in a corruption case relating to his tenure as Surendranagar collector between April 2018 and June 2021.
He was accused of bribing officials in connection with arms licences and government land allotment. Subsequently, the ED arrested him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and filed a prosecution complaint.
A Gujarat government official stated that the action against Dahiya followed disciplinary proceedings, controversies and misconduct inquiries during his service, including issues related to his tenure with the National Health Mission.
Following a state inquiry committee's finding of substance in allegations of bigamy and professional misconduct made by a Delhi-based woman, the government had ordered a formal departmental inquiry into Dahiya's suspension in August 2019.
Dahiya denied the allegations and claimed he had been honey-trapped and blackmailed. Delhi Police later cleared him in the complaint filed by the woman. However, the Gujarat government stated at the time that separate departmental inquiries into other complaints against him were still ongoing.
The Gujarat government revoked Dahiya's suspension in July 2023, nearly four years after he was suspended, and appointed him as additional development commissioner in Gandhinagar. He continued in the post until Thursday's compulsory retirement.
Alok Mathur is a law graduate. Journalism is his first love which he now pursues in the latter half of his career. Controversies and crime are the right triggers for him.
