CBI searches at Gujarat-cadre IAS officer K Rajesh

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers late on Thursday night conducted searches at the residence, office and other premises of the 2011- batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre, K Rajesh in connection with irregularities in granting weapon license to various persons, said the agency officers.

He was posted as the joint secretary of the General Administration Department (GAD) of the state government.

Searches were conducted at Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Surat and Surendranagar in Gujarat and also in his native place in Andhra Pradesh, said a CBI officer.

Sources in the CBI also said that a Surat-based cloths merchant was also held in the case by the agency sleuths.

The officer said that Rajesh had also allegedly sought other favours from various applicants.

The alleged corruption charges against him surfaced in January 2021 when an Ahmedabad-based businessman filed a complaint with Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) alleging that Rajesh had sought Rs 5 lakh bribe from him to provide weapon license when the IAS officer was posted as Surendranagar collecto