Kankipati Rajesh
Investigators had alleged that Rajesh operated a bribe-for-licences racket involving the issuance of 271 arms licences.
State govt officials said the action followed a review of the officers’ service records by Union govt’s Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). Gujarat govt has followed orders of the DoPT in issuing premature retirement orders to the two officers,” the ACS said. Govt sources said the compulsory retirement orders were issued after the two officers were found to be “unsuitable for service” under Rule 13 of the All India Services Rules, which deals with “Suitability for service”.
“We have completed the process as directed by the DoPT. The probe found that some licences were cleared despite negative security recommendations from district police, with applicants allegedly being made to pay cash bribes. Gandhinagar : Gujarat govt on Thursday ordered the compulsory retirement of two mid-level IAS officers — Kankipati Rajesh and Gaurav Dahiya — in a major disciplinary action against officers whose service records had come under scrutiny.
Meanwhile, sources said disciplinary action could also be initiated against other suspended officers. The names under consideration include IAS officers Aayush Oak and Rajendra Patel, besides GAS cadre officer Ketki Vyas.