He projected himself as “Additional Director (Strategy & Campaigns) in the prime minister’s office” on his first visit to Kashmir and the officials believed him. They provided him with special police officers, an escort vehicle and a room in Hotel Lalit overlooking Dal Lake. However, during his second visit, the police started investigating antecedents of the alleged VVIP. And on the investigation, he turned out to be a Gujarat conman, Kiran Bhai Patel. The police arrested him and booked him under various sections. The Court has given him in judicial remand today.
According to the police, Kiran Bhai Patel, a resident of Gujarat impersonated himself as a senior government official of the government of India. The police sources say he resorted to cheating, and forgery and duped people under a plan to secure monetary benefits. The police have booked him under sections 419, 420, 467, 468, and 471 of the IPC.
Patel, according to the police sources, during his first visit to Kashmir in February went to various places along with his family members. They say he visited the Doodpathri tourist destination where he was accompanied by senior rank officers. At Doodpathri he enjoyed skiing and after that, he held a meeting with senior officials of the Doodpathri Development Authority about developing Doodpathri as a top tourist destination for Gujarati tourists. He has also visited Gulmarg under full security cover. However, he was not lucky during the second visit. The police got suspicious of his activities and checked his details and on the investigation, it proved that Prime Minister’s Office has not deputed any such official to Kashmir, the sources said.
The police arrested him and booked him under various sections of the IPC in the police station Nishat. The police said an investigation is in progress in the case. The police are also investigating whom he met during his stay in the Valley and what kind of favour he sought from them.
