According to a statement, issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS), the probe agency carried out search operations under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act at 12 locations in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Morbi and Mehsana in investigation relating to one Kiranbhai Jagdishbhai Patel and his associates namely Jay Savjibhai Sitapara, Hardik Kishorebhai Chandrana, Vitthalbhai Motibhai Patel, Amit Pandya and Piyush Kantibhai Vasita. 

 

The statement reads that Kiran Jagdishbhai Patel, with criminal intention and by employing high degree of forged means, impersonated himself as senior government official serving in PMO as “Dr Kiran Patel, Additional Director, PMO (Strategies & Campaigns)”. 

 

“By resorting to cheating, forgery and impersonation, he has duped gullible people and also intentionally induced people to do and also to omit to do activities, under a well-knit plan for securing monetary as well as material benefits,” it reads.

 

It reads that ED initiated investigation on the basis of FIR No. 19/2023 dated 02-03-2023, registered under sections 419, 420, 467, 468 and 471 of IPC registered by Police Station Nishat, Srinagar against Kiranbhai Patel.

 

“PMLA investigation has also revealed that he is a habitual scammer and imposter as 6 other FIRs have also been registered against him & his family members in Gujarat for defrauding gullible people by pretending himself as a high-rank officer in the government and showing his political connections.”

 

As per the statement during the course of search operations, documents related to immovable properties and highly incriminating material, have been recovered and seized.

 

It added that further investigation in respect of his activities in J&K and other places is in progress. (KNS)