3 min readAhmedabadUpdated: Jan 6, 2026 07:16 PM IST
The group, led by Varun Patel, also one of the leading members of the 2015 Patidar quota agitation, held a public rally in Ahmedabad district’s Mandal in support of Patel (Express photo)
A group of Patidar community members on Monday came out in support of IAS officer and former Surendranagar Collector Rajendrakumar Patel while alleging that “he has been targeted in the case”.
Patel, who was born in Dumana village of Viramgam taluka in Ahmedabad district had ranked 70 in the country in the UPSC exams in 2014. Qualified as a Bachelor in Dental Surgery, Patel took the exam with Gujarati Literature as a subject in the mains.
The group, led by Varun Patel, also one of the leading members of the 2015 Patidar quota agitation, held a public rally in Ahmedabad district’s Mandal in support of Patel and also submitted a memorandum to the local Mamlatdar.
In Mandal on Monday, Varun was also accompanied by other noted members of the Patidar quota agitation like Manoj Panara and Gita Patel, among others.
Addressing the rally, Varun said, “The government may say anything, Rajendra Patel is respectable and the pride of our clan and our community.”
Express photo
Speaking with The Indian Express, Varun said, “The government has taken action as if Rajendra Patel is a culprit and has taken money for granting change of land use applications. In Gujarat, every collector takes money for granting non-agriculture use (applications). Same ED action should be taken against all the (district) collectors.”
Varun claimed that the survey numbers mentioned in the complaint against Rajendrakumar were granted NA permission during the tenure of his predecessor.
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“Rajendra Patel has been purely targeted. Earlier, a conspiracy was on to eliminate Patidars from the politics of Gujarat and now a conspiracy is on to eliminate Patidars and Gujaratis from the administration,” he said.
Varun said they are going to carry out a campaign in support of Rajendrakumar by meeting top four Patidar organisations in the state, hence involving them in the issue.
After the rally, the group submitted a memorandum to the Mamlatdar seeking a law to check marriages after elopement and “to stop biased behaviour towards Gujarati officers” in various departments of the state government.
Parimal A Dabhi works with The Indian Express as Chief of Bureau, focusing on the state of Gujarat. Leveraging his seniority and access, Dabhi is recognized for his reporting on the complex interplay of law, politics, social justice, and governance within the region.
Expertise & Authority
Core Authority (Social Justice and Law): Dabhi is a key source for in-depth coverage of caste-based violence, discrimination, and the state's response to social movements, particularly those involving Patidar, Dalit and OBC communities. His reporting focuses on the societal and legal fallout of these issues:
Caste and Discrimination: He has reported extensively on social boycotts and instances of violence against Dalits (such as the attack on a Dalit wedding party in Patan), the community's demands (like refusing to pick carcasses), and the political responses from leaders like Jignesh Mevani.
Judicial and Legal Affairs: He tracks significant, high-stakes legal cases and judgments that set precedents in Gujarat, including the convictions under the stringent Gujarat Animal Preservation Act (cow slaughter), 2002 Gujarat riots and developments in cases involving former police officers facing charges of wrongful confinement and fake encounters.
Political and Administrative Oversight: Dabhi provides essential coverage of the inner workings of the state government and the opposition, ensuring a high degree of Trustworthiness in political analysis:
State Assembly Proceedings: He frequently reports directly from the Gujarat Assembly, covering Question Hour, discussion on various Bills, debates on budgetary demands for departments like Social Justice, and ministerial statements on issues like illegal mining, job quotas for locals, and satellite-based farm loss surveys.
Electoral Politics: His work details key political developments, including election analysis (voter turnout records), party organizational changes (like the end of C R Patil’s tenure as BJP chief), and campaign dynamics. ... Read More
Express photo
