In a major disciplinary action, the Gujarat govt compulsorily retired two IAS officers — Kankipati Rajesh (IAS:2011:GJ) and Gaurav Dahiya (IAS:2010:GJ) — on Thursday. The disciplinary action was initiated against officers whose service records had come under scrutiny.
According to govt sources, the action followed orders from the Union Govt’s Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to issue premature retirement orders to the two officers after reviewing their service records.
Govt sources said the tough action was taken after the two officers were found to be “unsuitable for service” under Rule 13 of the All India Services Rules, which deals with “Suitability for service”.
While Rajesh was undergoing suspension since July 2022, due to alleged corruption and money-laundering cases being investigated by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Dahiya was suspended in Aug 2019, following allegations of misconduct, moral turpitude, bigamy and cheating. He was later reinstated in July 2023, nearly four years after his suspension.
Rajesh faced serious charges of corruption during his tenure as Surendranagar district collector and underwent extensive investigations by the CBI and the ED. The CBI had even registered an FIR against him and subsequently filed a chargesheet in May 2022, for extortion, bribery and misuse of public office.
Rajesh allegedly operated a bribe-for-licences racket involving the issuance of 271 arms licences. After probe it was found that some licences were cleared despite negative security recommendations from district police.
Following it, the ED too had initiated a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and filed a prosecution complaint in Oct 2022, attaching his assets worth Rs 1.55 crore, including bank deposits and properties in Surat, as proceeds of crime.
Dahiya’s suspension was ordered following a preliminary report submitted by a five-member inquiry committee on allegations levelled by a Delhi-based woman. The allegations included misconduct, bigamy, moral turpitude and cheating. But his suspension was revoked in July 2023, and he was posted as additional development commissioner in Gandhinagar.
Govt sources indicate that disciplinary action could also be initiated against other suspended IAS officers, like Aayush Oak (IAS:2011:GJ) and Rajendra Patel (IAS:2015), besides GAS cadre officer Ketki Vyas.
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