Gujarat Conman Posing as PMO Official Arrested in Srinagar

SRINAGAR: With more than a thousand followers, Kiran J. Patel has a verified Twitter account. Patel travelled to several tourist destinations in Kashmir, including Gulmarg, while posing as an additional director for strategy and campaigns in the Prime Minister's Office. He claimed that the government had given him the assignment to look for improvements in the area's hotel accommodations.

The Gujarati man even managed to swindle the government by obtaining Z-plus security protection, a bulletproof car, and official lodging at a five-star hotel in Jammu and Kashmir.

During his third journey to the Kashmir Valley, however, Patel was subsequently detained on March 3 by vigilant security personnel, according to a news report.  He was detained by authorities in Srinagar's five-star hotel for pretending to be the Centre’s "extra secretary" and receiving security protection in addition to other perks.

A few IAS officers were in awe of Patel as he was dropping names of high-ranking bureaucrats and politicians in the national capital, according to reports. Patel claimed that he had been given a mandate by the government to find buyers for apple orchards in south Kashmir.

Last night, he appeared in court in Srinagar to request an extension of his police remand. On March 2, a case was filed against him under the pertinent provisions of cheating and forgery, and the following day, he was taken into custody.

Pradipsinh Vaghela, the general secretary of the BJP in Gujarat, is a follower of Patel on Twitter. Even more, he published numerous videos and images of his visits to Kashmir while being guarded by paramilitary members.

In addition to an MBA from IIM Trichy, a PhD from Commonwealth University in Virginia, a BE in computer engineering, a M Tech in computer science, and an MBA, Patel claims to hold these degrees.

He can be seen in one of the videos strolling through the snow with paramilitary security at Doodhpathri in Budgam. Also, he posed for a picture in front of Srinagar's Lal Chowk clock tower.

Once he arrived at the airport on March 2, the security agencies became suspicious because there had been no reports of any VIP movement. An attempt was made to stop him at the airport, but it was unsuccessful since he had already gotten into a car that could withstand a bullet while traveling to the hotel.

Security personnel found fake identification cards in his hands following his interrogation and detention, according to the court documents.

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