January 21, 2025: Former Gujarat IAS officer Pradeep Sharma was sentenced to five years in prison and fined ₹75,000 on Monday in a corruption case stemming from his tenure as Kutch district collector in 2004. The sessions court of principal district and sessions judge KM Sojitra found him guilty under the Prevention of Corruption Act for causing a ₹1.2 crore loss to the government exchequer through the improper allotment of land to the Welspun Group.

The case, investigated by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), accused Sharma of allotting land to Welspun Group at a significantly undervalued rate—25% of the prevailing market price. In return, the company allegedly made Sharma’s wife a 30% partner in its subsidiary, Value Packaging, granting her financial benefits worth ₹29.5 lakh.

The court convicted Sharma under section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which pertains to criminal misconduct by a public servant, and section 11, which deals with public servants obtaining undue advantages. He was sentenced to five years in jail and fined ₹50,000 under section 13(2), and three years with a fine of ₹25,000 under section 11, with both sentences set to run concurrently.

Sharma’s legal troubles have been ongoing, as he is already in custody in Bhuj for a separate corruption case. The ACB had arrested him in September 2014 for allegedly accepting a ₹29 lakh bribe. His tenure as a senior bureaucrat has been marred by multiple allegations of misconduct, with this case marking a significant development in holding him accountable.

The case also underscores the larger issue of corruption and misuse of power within public offices. The court’s ruling sends a strong message about the importance of integrity and transparency in governance while highlighting the legal repercussions for those who exploit their positions for personal gain.