Arms licence scam: CBI arrests Andhra native IAS officer of Gujarat cadre Kankipati Rajesh

Rajahmundry: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Gujarat cadre IAS officer Kankipati Rajesh for allegedly receiving 'illegal gratification'. Hailing from Andhra Pradesh, the 2011 batch IAS officer is facing corruption charges for granting arm licenses and land allotment during his term as a collector of Surendranagar district. Another accused in the corruption scandal was arrested in May.

On May 20, CBI carried out multiple raids at his office in Gandhinagar and residence in Rajahmundry. CBI seized documents and digital evidence. Rajesh was arrested after he refused to cooperate during the ongoing investigation. This corruption scandal rocked the state when the IAS officer was posted as Collector of Surendranagar District (Gujarat) in 2021.

CBI also arrested a Surat-based private firm owner Rafiq Menon who allegedly acted as the middleman in the scandal. He was acting as a conduit accepting bribes on behalf of an IAS officer. "A preliminary inquiry was earlier registered on a request of the Gujarat Government in the matter. This case is the outcome of the preliminary enquiry, a CBI official said.

Currently, Rajesh is posted as joint secretary to the government, General Administration Department (NRI and ART), in Gandhinagar. He also served as District Development Officer in Surat from 2017 to 2018.