Gujarat: Two class one officers allegedly involved in land scam declared absconders

AHMEDABAD: Additional sessions court of Surendranagar on Saturday declared the then additional collector of Surendranagar Chandrakant Pandya and the then charge Mamlatdar, Chotila J L Dhadvi as absconder in a case regarding misuse and misinterpretation of a court order and transferring non-irrigational land located at Jivapara and Bamanbor in the name of parties and also giving permission to sell the said land causing loss of Rs 3,23,03556 to the state government.

It is worthy to mention that ACB had moved the court to declare them absconders under section 70 of CrPC, which the court upheld. “ Meanwhile court rejected the anticipatory bail application filed by the third accused, Vijay Chauhan, the then deputy collector of Chotila. All three class one officers are at present placed under suspension” said an ACB official.

Senior ACB officials said K Rajesh, presently posted as collector, Surendranagar had lodged a complaint with ACB, Surendranagar regarding the alleged irregularities on 10th of February 2019. “The three officers were then placed under suspension but were not available for interrogation. After a proper search for accused Chandrakant Pandya and JL Dhadhi, we had moved the court with an application to declare them absconders under the law. The court upheld our arguments and have declared them absconders. The court has rejected the anticipatory bail application of the third accused JL Dhadvi” added a senior ACB official.