Former Surat District Collector Ayush Oak Faces Inquiry Over Corruption Charges

SURAT, GUJARAT : Ayush Oak, former Surat district collector may face a thorough inquiry into corruption charges by the Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and the Gujarat Vigilance Department. Oak’s alleged involvement in a Rs 2,000 crore government land scam, spanning 2.17 lakh square meters in the Dumas area of Surat, has brought him under intense scrutiny.

Sources revealed that the investigation will focus on Oak’s tenure as the Surat district collector from June 26, 2021, to January 1, 2024. During this period, all files and orders passed by Oak will be meticulously examined by the ACB and the Vigilance Department to uncover any irregularities or corrupt practices. Sources reveal that the State Government is deeply shocked by the extent of corruption allegedly perpetrated by IAS officer Ayush Oak.

Oak was transferred to Valsad as the district collector in January 2024, but the allegations of corruption during his time in Surat have triggered a comprehensive investigation. The ACB and the Gujarat Vigilance Department are now probing Oak’s activities in both Surat and Valsad to ensure a thorough investigation into the allegations.

Sources state Oak is suspected of implementing a “tout system” inside the Surat district collector’s office. Through intermediaries who collaborated closely with some of Oak’s reliable revenue officials, this method allegedly helped to approve Non-Agricultural (NA) land conversions and other land-related issues. These middlemen, sometimes known as touts, apparently got large payments in return for quick permits and land dispute resolutions.

Touts and agents with direct access to top revenue officials have sparked grave questions about the integrity of the Surat district collector’s office. Often in cooperation with the district collector, these middlemen are thought to have been instrumental in settling difficult cases. Senior revenue officials participating in these events has heightened the seriousness of the accusations even more.

The ACB and the Gujarat Vigilance Department seek to expose the whole scope of the claimed corruption network run by former Surat district collector Ayush Oak and his allies as the probe is under progress. The investigation is supposed to expose the institutional corruption in the office of the district collector and bring those guilty to justice.

The controversy has not only damaged the standing of the Surat district government but also begged issues about the systems of control meant to stop such misuse of authority. Restoring public confidence and guaranteeing government administrative responsibility depend critically on the results of the probe.