Conman poses as PMO official, fools top officials

Srinagar: A team of three led by Kiran Bhai Patel, a conman from Gujarat posed as officials from Prime Minister's office earlier this month in Srinagar. Patel was arrested by Kashmir police but the team may have escaped.

Amit Hitesh Pandiya and Jay Sitapara from Gujarat, and Trilok Singh from Rajasthan were also staying with Patel at a five-star hotel in Srinagar. His lawyer Rehan Gowhar said two people accompanying Patel were set free by the police and alleged a political conspiracy. "My client told me that he was accompanied by two more people from Gujarat. Police have also recorded his statement before the magistrate under section 164. Both were set free by the police."

Patel was pretending to be an Additional Director for strategy and campaigns in the Prime Minister's Office. He took the Jammu and Kashmir administration and security structure for a ride by securing Z-plus security cover, a bulletproof Mahindra Scorpio SUV, and official accommodation at a five-star hotel among other things, reported NDTV. He was arrested on March 2 but it was kept a secret. On Thursday, the magistrate sent him to judicial custody.

The con has been going on since October 2022 and they came under suspicion after Patel asked a senior official to accompany him on an official tour of the Budgam district. The officer contacted a CID officer which prompted an investigation.

According to sources, an IAS officer and a district magistrate in south Kashmir initially informed the security wing about the visit of a senior PMO officer. Patel was then given Z plus security and local police also accompanied him on four trips. The imposter held meetings with officials and visited the Line of Control and posted photos. He has thousands of followers on Twitter including BJP Gujarat General Secretary Pradipsinh Vaghela.

The con is being considered a serious incident as it fooled several top officials.