Gujarat compulsorily retires two IAS officers under ‘Operation Gangajal’

The Gujarat government on Thursday, 1 October 2026, compulsorily retired two Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, K Rajesh and Gaurav Dahiya, as part of ‘Operation Gangajal’, an exercise targeting officials facing corruption allegations and disciplinary proceedings. Hindustan Times reports Rajesh, a 2011-batch officer under suspension since July 2022, was retired following criminal investigations into alleged bribery, illegal land allotments, and money laundering. Dahiya, a 2010-batch officer serving as additional development commissioner, was retired after disciplinary proceedings into allegations including misconduct, with the government ordering a formal departmental inquiry in 2019.

The Indian Express adds that the decision was taken after a review of the last 15 years of service under the new All India Services Pension Rules by a committee headed by the Chief Secretary. A top official in the General Administration Department confirmed the development. Rajesh was arrested by the CBI in 2022 and later by the ED. Dahiya, who had been suspended in 2019 on charges including bigamy and fraud, was reinstated in July 2023. Dahiya was due to retire in 2044.