Land Allotment Case: SC Issues Notice to Gujarat Govt on Bail Plea of Ex-IAS Officer

The Supreme Court on Monday sought the Gujarat government’s response regarding the bail plea of retired IAS officer Pradeep Sharma in a case involving the alleged illegal allotment of government land for monetary gains during his tenure as the collector of Kutch district.

The Bench

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan issued notice to the Gujarat government, granting it four weeks to respond.

Senior advocate Devadatt Kamat, representing Sharma, remarked, “I am the usual weeping boy of the state, seeking relief in the matter.”

The bench replied, “Alright, we are issuing the notice.”

Gujarat High Court

Sharma challenged the Gujarat High Court’s March 20 decision, which denied his bail plea in the case.

The high court, noting several FIRs against Sharma for similar offenses during his tenure as a high-ranking government official, declined to favor him. The FIR, lodged by the state CID Crime in Kutch, accused Sharma of criminal breach of trust, disobedience by a public servant, criminal conspiracy, and violations of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The Case

Sharma is presently in judicial custody in connection with the land allotment case filed by CID Crime in Bhuj, Kutch district, in September, 2023. The allegations suggest that Sharma, during his tenure as the Kutch district collector from May 2003 to June 2006, unlawfully facilitated non-agricultural permission for land in Bhuj city, resulting in illicit monetary gains.

The FIR accuses Sharma of dishonest conduct in allotting government land to co-accused at undervalued rates by illegally converting it from non-agricultural to residential use, causing significant losses to the state exchequer.

Pradeep Sharma and his brother, retired IPS officer Kuldeep Sharma, were known for their conflicts with the BJP government in the state during their bureaucratic tenures.

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