What happened
Former Surendranagar Collector Rajendra Patel found India's land-conversion process inefficient. His solution: download applications from the state's own Integrated Online Revenue Applications portal, manually append a custom spreadsheet column fixing bribe rates at ₹5–10 per square metre, and process accordingly. The system ran smoothly for years. Developer Chetan Kanzaria paid ₹65 lakh through the unofficial rate card without complaint. Deputy Mamlatdar Chandrasinh Mori, who handled collections, kept ₹67.50 lakh in cash tucked away at home, presumably pending a portal update for formal disbursement. Patel was arrested by the ED in January 2026 — the first district collector in India arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. He was suspended. The state government called it an isolated case. Gujarat's next Vibrant Gujarat investment summit is scheduled as usual.