Scam-involved Gujarat officer suspended

GANDHINAGAR - Gujarat cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Pradeep Sharma, who was arrested for involvement in the Kutch land scam last week, was Tuesday suspended from service.

Sharma was posted as the municipal commissioner in Bhavnagar.

Sharma was remanded in four day’s police custody by a Bhuj court along with three office-bearers of the Bhuj Bazaar Navnirman Charitable Trust, which implemented the rehabilitation project for the traders affected by the January 26, 2001, earthquake.

Sharma, as the district collector of Kutch between 2003 and 2006, reportedly issued entitlement certificates to people not entitled to the land meant for certain categories of earthquake affected people.