ED Probe Exposes Bribery Through Gujarat’s IORA Portal

Digital Governance Under Scrutiny

The Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) investigation into Gujarat’s Integrated Online Revenue Applications (IORA) portal has revealed how a flagship digital governance tool was allegedly misused as a mechanism for institutionalised bribery. What was promoted as part of the so‑called “Gujarat Model” of efficiency and transparency has, according to investigators, collapsed into a high‑tech extortion racket.

Arrest of IAS Officer

The arrest of Rajendrakumar Mahendra Patel, a 2015‑batch IAS officer and former Surendranagar Collector, marks a significant development in the probe. Patel was taken into custody on charges of money laundering linked to systematic bribe collection. The ED claims his arrest is only the beginning of uncovering a larger corruption scheme involving bureaucrats and intermediaries.

Modus Operandi

According to the ED, Patel industrialised bribery by manipulating land‑use change (CLU) applications downloaded from the IORA portal. He allegedly created custom spreadsheet columns to “fix” bribe rates ranging between ₹5 and ₹10 per square metre. These rates were reportedly applied to expedite approvals, with payments routed through a network of middlemen operating from the Collector’s office.

Institutionalised “Speed Money”

The probe suggests that under Patel’s watch, the Collector’s office functioned less like a government institution and more like a brokerage firm, where “speed money” became the de facto currency for administrative approvals. This revelation has raised serious questions about the integrity of digital governance systems and the safeguards against misuse.

Wider Implications

The case underscores the vulnerability of e‑governance platforms when oversight mechanisms fail. While the state government promotes its vision of “Viksit Bharat,” the ED’s findings highlight deep flaws in bureaucratic accountability. The High Court proceedings and ongoing investigation are expected to determine the scale of the corruption and the systemic reforms required to restore public trust.