Ex-IAS officer Pradeep Sharma allotted 65 acre to people settled in London, state govt to Gujarat HC

The state government on Tuesday vehemently opposed the anticipatory bail plea of former IAS officer Pradeep Sharma pending before the Gujarat High Court and accused him of having an "ulterior motive" in allotting 65 acres of land in Anandpar village of Tankara block in Morbi district to persons having settled in London.

Notably, Sharma is apprehending his arrest in the case after an FIR was registered against him by the then mamlatdar of Tankara for criminal breach of trust and corruptly making reports contrary to law in judicial proceedings by a public servant.

According to the state government, a plot located in Anandpar measuring 65 acres was allotted to one DJ Mehta and others on the condition that they would personally cultivate the land. However, it came to the revenue authority's notice that the beneficiaries of the land have migrated to London and were not cultivating the land. The allotment was forfeited by the government in 2000. The cancellation of allotment was challenged by the affected persons after a delay of seven years before the collector.

It is the argument of the state government that Sharma, who was the collector at the relevant point, condoned the delay in preferring an appeal by the affected persons and re-allotted the land to them on March 26, 2007, three days after his transfer order as municipal commissioner, Bhavnagar, was issued by the government. The government contended that the re-allotment of land beyond jurisdiction creates doubt and suspicion with regards to the conduct of the petitioner.

The state government has also sought his custodial interrogation clarifying that due to a stay granted by the high court, crucial investigation in the case is yet to be carried out. The government has also pointed out the criminal antecedents of Sharma citing that there are seven offences registered against him in the state.

Sharma, on the other hand, has contended that the FIR registered against him in the case is false and motivated. He has also submitted that the state is having vengeance and therefore, multiple FIRs have been registered against him to ensure that he remains behind bars.

Meanwhile, the court has directed the state government to provide the documents based on which the state is making claims against the former bureaucrat.