Ex-IAS Officer Who Gifted Land to Welspun at Throwaway Prices Sentenced to 5 Years in Jail
Former Kutch Collector jailed for 5 years in Rs 1.20-cr land allotment scam favoring Welspun.
A Special Court in Ahmedabad (Rural), designated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), has convicted former Bhuj District Collector Pradeep Nirankarnath Sharma for his role in a land allotment scam. The court sentenced him to five years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000, with an additional three months of simple imprisonment if the fine remains unpaid.
The case stems from Sharma’s tenure between 2003 and 2006 as the head of the District Land Pricing Committee (DLPC). During this period, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged that he misused his position to allot government land in Varshmedi village, Anjar taluka, to Welspun India Limited and its group companies at rates below government-approved norms. This undervaluation reportedly caused a financial loss exceeding Rs 1.20 crore to the State exchequer.
The ED initiated money laundering proceedings after state agencies flagged irregularities in the allotment process. Assets acquired through the alleged proceeds of crime were provisionally attached during the investigation. In its judgment, the court ordered the confiscation of these attached properties in favor of the Central Government under Section 8(5) of the PMLA.
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The court also noted that Sharma’s period of custody during the investigation and trial will be counted toward his sentence. Non-valuable seized items are to be destroyed once the appeal period concludes, while valuable unclaimed items will be deposited with the government following due legal procedures.
Sharma, who had been out on bail pending trial, has been instructed to surrender immediately to judicial authorities and commence his prison term. Copies of the judgment have been forwarded to the District Magistrate of Ahmedabad and relevant authorities for necessary compliance.
This verdict marks a significant outcome in one of Gujarat’s high-profile land scam cases, highlighting the legal and regulatory mechanisms in place to hold senior officials accountable for corruption and misuse of public office.
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