Kiran Bhai Patel Poses As Top PMO Official, Enjoys Security Cover; 5-Star Hotel Accommodation Before Cops Nab Him
By Majid Nabi
Srinagar- In what seems to be like a script of a bollywood blockbuster, a man from Gujarat posed as a senior official in the Prime Minister’s office (PMO) and enjoyed security cover and five-star hotel stay in Kashmir before the cops lifted his cover and arrested him.
Kiran Bhai Patel from Gujarat was arrested by police earlier this month for masquerading as Additional Director (Strategy & Campaigns) at the Prime Minister’s Office, New Delhi and resorting to cheating, forgery and impersonation to dupe gullible people by promising them government jobs, a police official said Thursday.
https://twitter.com/bansijpatel/status/1630226282205315072?s=46&t=O3-0NU0o7NJUZz75TVs9tg
Patel, who was on his third visit to the valley, was arrested on March 3, a day after an FIR was registered against him at the police station Nishat.
“He was immediately arrested and detained at Nishat police station. During investigation, it came to fore that the accused has cheated many people in J&K and outside. A formal case has been registered in this regard and investigation set into motion,” the official said.
When asked about the number of people cheated by the conman during his stay in Valley, the official said the investigation into the case is ongoing and any revelation at this stage might ‘hamper’ the same.
Patel had claimed he had been given a mandate by the government to identify buyers for apple orchards in south Kashmir and a couple of IAS officers were in awe of him as he had been dropping names of high-ranking bureaucrats and politicians in the national capital.
Police sources said that Patel was arrested on the basis of specific information about his criminal activities within the jurisdiction of police station Nishat and other parts of the Valley and by employing a high degree of forged means.
The conman, sources said, was staying in Room number 1107 of the scenic Lalit Hotel, located on the foothills of Zabarwan forest range and overlooking Dal Lake. He had also managed to avail security cover with Personal Security Officers (PSOs) besides a bullet-proof car using forged means.
He had also visited a number of tourist spots, including the ski-resort of Gulmarg and Doodhpathri with his security detail. At Doodhpathri, Patel was accompanied by an SDM rank officer.
Patel, the sources said, also visited the city centre Lal Chowk a couple of times and clicked pictures in front of Clock Tower.
A formal case has been registered against the accused at police station Nishat under FIR number 19/2023 under sections 420, 467, 471 and 468 CrPC and investigation set into motion, sources said.
Meanwhile, a local court has sent the accused to police remand to investigate the case further
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