IAS Officer Rajendra Vijay's Wealth Under Fire: ACB Raids Unveil the Hidden Fortune!
On Wednesday, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) uncovered assets belonging to IAS officer Rajendra Vijay, the Kota divisional commissioner, that were disproportionate to his declared income during a series of searches. The operations took place at various locations in Jaipur, Kota, and Dausa.
The searches led to the discovery of documents indicating ownership of 13 residential and commercial properties, including a showroom in GT Galleria located in C-Scheme, Jaipur, and an opulent house on Tonk Road. As the investigations unfolded, the Department of Personnel (DoP) issued an order placing Vijay on Awaiting Posting Orders (APO). He had taken charge of his position on September 25 but was relieved of his duties following the ACB’s actions.
Dr. Ravi Prakash Meharda, the director general of ACB, stated that the agency acted on confidential information suggesting that Vijay had acquired numerous movable and immovable assets through corrupt practices, both in his and his family members' names. These assets are believed to be worth several crores of rupees, significantly exceeding his legitimate earnings.
Meharda added, “Evidence of investments in undisclosed (benami) properties linked to Vijay and his family has also been discovered and will be thoroughly investigated.”
The ACB's intelligence branch verified the confidential information, leading to the registration of an FIR. During the raid at Vijay’s residence in Jaipur, officials seized documents pertaining to the 13 properties, Rs 2.22 lakh in cash, 335 grams of gold jewelry, 11.8 kilograms of silver jewelry, and three cars. Additionally, the investigation revealed investments in insurance policies, a yet-to-be-searched bank locker, and 16 bank accounts with substantial deposits.
The ACB team, led by additional superintendent Mukul Sharma, visited the Kota Circuit House, where Vijay was staying at the time. He was scheduled to attend a Gandhi Jayanti floral tribute event at Chambal Garden at 8 AM, but all events were canceled after he contacted a district administrative officer at 7:45 AM, coinciding with the initiation of the raid.
Vijay and his wife were interrogated for approximately eight to nine hours at the Circuit House. Shortly after the raids began, the joint secretary of the Department of Personnel issued an order placing Vijay on APO. Kota district collector Ravindra Goswami has since been appointed as the acting divisional commissioner.
Rajendra Vijay, who previously served as the Baran collector under the former Congress government, is now at the center of an extensive investigation.
ACB Probes Chief Fire Officer Over Alleged Corruption
In a related matter, the Vishwamitri Bachao Samiti has called for an investigation into the suspended chief of Vadodara Fire & Emergency Services, Parth Brahmbhatt, for alleged disproportionate assets. Brahmbhatt is accused of soliciting bribes for no-objection certificates and being involved in sealing violations. Advocate Shailesh Amin has also demanded scrutiny of officials who supported Brahmbhatt and questioned the Vadodara Municipal Corporation’s unusual appointment practices.
