Former IAS Pradeep Sharma Gets 5-Year Sentence in Money Laundering Case

Former IAS Officer Pradeep Sharma Sentenced to Five Years in Money Laundering Case

Ahmedabad: A special PMLA court in Ahmedabad has sentenced retired IAS officer Pradeep Sharma to five years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹50,000 in a major money laundering case linked to his tenure as Kutch District Collector between 2003 and 2006.

The case centres on allegations that Sharma abused his position to allot government land to Welspun India Limited at concessional rates in exchange for illegal benefits routed through his wife’s bank account.

ED Says Kickbacks Routed Through Wife’s US-Based Account

According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), ₹29.5 lakh was deposited into the account of Sharma’s wife — a US national — as a kickback for approving land allocations that violated government norms.

Investigators stated that the couple used the funds to repay a home loan and purchase agricultural land. Between 2004 and 2007, Sharma’s wife was made a 30% partner in Value Packaging Pvt. Ltd., a firm ED says was set up to launder proceeds of the illicit transactions.

Court Confirms Property Confiscation

Special Judge K.M. Sojitra convicted Sharma under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and ordered that all properties attached during the investigation will remain permanently confiscated.

The court remarked that public servants are “custodians of public trust” and that misuse of authority for personal gain represents a fundamental breach of administrative integrity.

Long Trail of Corruption Cases Since 2010

Sharma has faced several corruption cases over the past 15 years.

• In 2010, CID Rajkot booked him for causing a ₹1.20 crore loss to the state exchequer.

• In 2012, ED initiated PMLA proceedings based on these FIRs.

• In 2014, ACB charged him with reclassifying agricultural land for the benefit of Welspun Group companies, despite his wife's involvement in a related firm.

These cases collectively painted a broader picture of sustained misuse of authority during his tenure.

Previous Conviction in 2011 Land Irregularity Case

This is Sharma’s second conviction in less than a year.
In April 2025, a Bhuj court sentenced him to five years in a separate case involving irregularities in allotting government land to Saw Pipes Pvt. Ltd.

Arrested by ED in 2016 and released on bail in 2018, he is currently serving his earlier sentence, making the latest conviction an additional blow to his legal battles.

From Respected Bureaucrat to Symbol of Corruption

Once hailed for his role in Kutch’s post-earthquake rehabilitation efforts, Sharma’s reputation later collapsed under the weight of accusations of preferential treatment toward select industrial groups.

Legal experts say the conviction underscores the judiciary’s increasing emphasis on accountability among senior bureaucrats. Meanwhile, ED has expanded its probe to examine other land allotments made under Sharma’s oversight between 2003 and 2006.

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