The deemed suspension order issued by the General Administration Department under the provisions of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, followed Patel’s arrest on January 2. A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court sent him to the central agency’s custody till January 7.

ED is investigating a case under the PMLA in which Chandrasinh Mori, a deputy mamlatdar at the Surendranagar Collectorate, was arrested on December 23 last year. The case pertains to running a money-laundering racket and collecting bribes for changes in land-use applications in the district.