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Homechevron_rightIndiachevron_rightSenior Gujarat CMO...

Senior Gujarat CMO official resigns after son’s link with conman Kiran Bhai Patel

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Senior Gujarat CMO official resigns after son’s link with conman Kiran Bhai Patel
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A senior official in the Gujarat Chief Minister’s Office resigned on Friday over links between his son and ‘conman’ Kiran Bhai Patel who made headlines after his arrest early this month.

Hitesh Pandya, additional public relations officer in the Gujarat CMO submitted his resignation Friday evening after nearly 22 years in the office where he served under five chief ministers, including Keshubhai Patel, Narendra Modi, Anandiben Patel, Vijay Rupani and Bhupendra Patel.

Pandya’s son Amit Hitesh Pandya, a businessman associated with the BJP, was part of a fake 'official team' of the Prime Minister's Office led by Kiran Patel. Patel is currently in J&K custody for posing as an 'official' of the PMO.

“I have tendered my resignation to the Chief Minister (Bhupendra Patel). Nobody asked me to resign. I felt I should resign. I will wind up my pending work by March 31 and be relieved from the office”, 73-year-old Pandya told The Indian Express.

With having had one of the longest tenures in the Gujarat CMO, Pandya has been posted there since 2001 initially as assistant PRO in a lateral appointment. He was earlier employed with Life Corporation of India, and had also worked with Rajkot daily “Phulchhab”.

Pandya had earlier admitted that Amit had visited J&K this month along with Kiran Patel “for business purposes” with his consent.

Amit and another man identified as Jay Sitapara were accompanying Kiran Patel when he was arrested in J&K earlier this month. Amit and Sitapara have been called by J&K police for questioning in the case.

Pandya says that his son is “innocent” and “a witness” in the case against Kiran Patel. “He is in Kashmir indeed. And I have been saying from day one that he had been called (by J&K police) to record his statement as a witness”, he said.

Amit reportedly deals in home security appliances like CCTV cameras through his firm Safe Solution. Pandya said that Amit has been associated with the BJP and was convener of the party’s social media cell in Gujarat’s North Zone. “As part of party reshuffle, he was relieved of his responsibilities as convener of the party’s social media cell’s north zone in January this year,” he said.

The cell’s state convenor Manan Dani confirmed that Amit was the convenor for North Zone till January 2023, reports The Indian Express.

While Pandya denied any knowledge of Kiran Patel having any links to the CMO, he admitted that in 2011, Patel was associated with a private organisation floated by him called Nation First Foundation (NFF).

“I started it in 2011 to propagate Modi saheb’s ideas. I am the founder of the organisation…Our work was only related to serving the nation. Then we had done a Bharat Jago Abhiyan to create awareness among people towards the BJP government’s works and projects… He (Kiran Patel) came into contact because he was with Amit. And he joined NFF,” Pandya said as quoted by The Indian Express.

“They were working in a publicity company in 2004. And I know him as Amit’s friend… But in 2011 itself, I realised that he (Kiran) was not a person to be kept with us. So, I relieved him and all the people with him (from NFF)…I did not find his dealings and billing proper…Then, he (Kiran Patel) started his own organisation”, he said.

“As a friend he can be with anyone. Secondly, he is a businessman. If you think that a person can get you business, why would you break the relationship? He was keeping him away without snapping the relationship” said Pandya on his son’s connection with Kiran Patel.

According to Pandya, Amit left for Jammu and Kashmir with Kiran Patel with his consent for business purpose regarding CCTVs.

“After Kiran’s arrest, Amit and Jay were kept in a hotel and their statements recorded. Then, they were let go and told that they will have to come whenever called…His statement was recorded as a witness,” he said.

According to Pandya, “After getting to know about the case (from Amit), I immediately informed the Chief Minister (Bhupendra Patel) and others who I felt needed to be informed”, reports The Indian Express.

Kiran Patel and his team tricked the Jammu and Kashmir administration and security apparatus to secure a Z-plus security cover, official accommodation at a five-star hotel, and a lot more. He had shared several videos and pictures of his 'official visits' in Kashmir surrounded by paramilitary guards, the last of which was on March 2.

Patel is also verified on Twitter and has over a thousand followers, including BJP Gujarat General Secretary Pradipsinh Vaghela.



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