Red-faced UT administration left embarrassed
The Union Territory administration in Jammu and Kashmir has been left red-faced after a Gujarati conman, posing as a senior official of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), repeatedly hoodwinked them as he roamed freely under a Z plus security cover, stayed at a 5-star hotel and moved around in a bulletproof SUV during his stay in the Kashmir valley.
The conman identified as Kiran J Patel by the police authorities regularly visited the Kashmir valley since November 2022 and posted videos of his short trips on various social pages.
તું અંધકાર ના ભયથી, મને ના ડરાવ..!!
મારી ભીતર નો સુરજ, કદી ડુબતો નથી….!!!!#Kashmir#PMOIndia#india#bharatmatakijai#JaiHind pic.twitter.com/mPk9jofx94— Dr. Kiran J Patel (@bansijpatel) February 17, 2023
According to media reports, Patel had even attended meetings with some government officials to discuss various proposals related to tourism-related infrastructure development.
Patel, however, ran out of luck in the first week of March when Jammu and Kashmir policemen came knocking at his hotel door and whisked him away to the nearest police station in Nishat after he refused to give satisfactory replies to their list of questions.
Patel’s modus operandi has already exposed the loopholes in the multi-tier security apparatus in Jammu and Kashmir. He was extended security cover and commandos of the J&k Police provided a double escort to him during his short trips to various tourist destinations across Kashmir valley.
The alleged Gujarati conman Kiran Patel who was posing as an official of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) was sent to 15-day judicial custody on Friday.
॥ जय हिन्द ॥ pic.twitter.com/WCEZxlDHId
— Dr. Kiran J Patel (@bansijpatel) February 27, 2023
According to his profile details on the social media platform, Kiran J Patel had acquired a Ph.D. from Commonwealth University, Virginia, an MBA from IIM Trichy, as well as an M.Tech in Computer Science and B.E. in Computer Engineering. He also described himself as a “thinker, strategist, analyst, and campaign manager”.
Facing the heat of allegations, an official spokesman of the Jammu and Kashmir police Friday issued a written statement claiming, “On 2nd of March 2023, CID wing of J&K Police gave information to police about the arrival of an impersonator in Kashmir. SSP Srinagar immediately sent a team led by SP East to the Lalit hotel. The particulars of this person were found as Kiran Bhai Patel son of Juddesh Bhai Patel resident of Ahmadabad, Gujarat who was impersonating himself as Additional Director (Strategy and campaigns) PMO New Delhi”. “As his replies were found suspicious, he was taken to police station Nishat wherein he admitted his crime. Ten fake visiting cards and two mobiles were seized from him”.
According to a police spokesman, “a case vide FIR No. 19/2023 U/S 419,420,467,468, 471 of IPC was registered in Police Station Nishat on 02/03/2023 and the investigation was taken up“.
A separate team led by the SP East Srinagar, SDPO Nehru Park, and SHO Nishat is leading the investigation.
The police spokesman said the accused Kiran Bhai Patel was arrested on 03-03-2023 and is in police remand up to 17-03-2023. “Many relevant persons have been examined in this case. Case is at the initial stage of investigation”.
In addition to this, Jammu and Kashmir Police spokesman said, “three cases were also registered against the above fraudster in different Police stations in Gujrat: Raopura Police Station, Baroda city Case No I/0064/2019, Case Date: 7/8/2019 IPC 114, 294(KH), 406, 420, 5072, Naroda Police Station Ahmedabad City case No I/0066/2017 Case Date: 24/02/2017 IPC 120B, 406, 420 and Bayad Police Station, Aravali Case No I/0047/2019, Case Date: 22/08/2019 IPC 120B, 406, 420.
According to various social media pages, Kiran J Patel was regularly visiting Kashmir valley with his family and meeting local leaders.
In January 2023, Kiran Patel also posted his pictures participating in Mission Kashmir development. “Thank You Modiji, for trusting my abilities and giving me the opportunity in your mission of Kashmir Development” tweeted Patel.
Since 2015, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have earned special space in my heart.
Happy to learn that I need to visit Kasmir frequently this year before the Kashmir Assembly Elections. #MODifyingkashmir#modi#kashmir#kashmiryouthweb #narendramodi #pmoindia pic.twitter.com/2KmVycSKNL
— Dr. Kiran J Patel (@bansijpatel) January 19, 2023
Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
PGurus is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with all the latest news and views
For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.
- Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir soon: Modi - April 12, 2024
- Campaign trail: Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat - April 8, 2024
- Ghulam Nabi Azad returns to the poll arena, to contest the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat - April 2, 2024
