The Anand Police have arrested Jayesh Patel, the suspended Deputy Mamlatdar from the record department, in connection with a significant land conversion scam. Patel is accused of destroying critical evidence and forging signatures to facilitate the illegal conversion of new tenure land into old tenure—a manipulation that substantially increases land value and enables illicit transactions.
Patel allegedly tampered with official records by falsifying entries and signatures in the File Movement Register. This allowed him to gain possession of important land files, which were subsequently reported missing. An FIR was registered in March 2025 after these irregularities surfaced. Given the case’s sensitivity, the investigation was handed over to Inspector HR Brahmbhatt of the Local Crime Branch (LCB).
Police statements from multiple collector office employees revealed Patel’s role in withholding and manipulating files. On Wednesday, the LCB arrested Patel and produced him before a magistrate’s court to seek custody for further investigation.
Senior police officials indicated the scam could involve more individuals, both government employees and private parties, suggesting a broader network exploiting land record loopholes. The missing files may impact multiple prime land parcels, raising concerns about the scam’s scale and complexity. Further arrests are expected as the probe continues.
