Srinagar, Mar 17 (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested a man posing as an ‘additional secretary’ in the Centre and enjoying security cover besides other hospitalities.
Kiran Patel, who was given the cover on request of a Kashmir DC, was nabbed by alert security officials on March 3 from a five-star hotel in the union territory.
According to court documents, Kiran Patel, who hails from Gujarat, was on his third visit to the Kashmir valley.
Patel had claimed he had been given 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.
He was produced before a court in the valley last evening for extension of his police remand. A case under relevant sections of cheating and forgery was registered against him on March 2 and he was arrested the next day.
During his earlier visit, he had travelled to tourist hotspot Gulmarg claiming that the government had tasked him to look for improvement of hotel facilities in the area.
Security agencies got suspicious after he landed at the airport on March 2 as there was no information of any VIP movement.
An attempt was made to stop him at the airport but this could not fructify as he had already stepped into a bullet-proof car on the way to the hotel.
After his questioning and subsequent arrest, security officials recovered forged identity cards from his possession, the documents said.
*Press Release*
*March 17:* On 2nd of March 2023, CID wing of J&K Police gave information to Police about arrival of an impersonator in Kashmir. SSP Srinagar immediately sent a team led by SP East to 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.
Based upon this, 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 investigation was taken up. A team of SP East Srinagar, SDPO Nehru Park, SHO Nishat are leading the investigation. 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 initial stage of investigation. Further details of this case will be shared later on.
It is also pertinent to mention that there are three cases registered against 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. (KNS)