Kashmir police arrest fraudster from Gujarat claiming to be PMO additional director

Srinagar/New Delhi, 20th March 2023: The Jammu and Kashmir Police recently arrested Kiran Patel, a resident of Gujarat, for posing as an Additional Director of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Patel was taking advantage of his false identity by taking a Z-plus security cover from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, a bulletproof Mahindra Scorpio SUV, and official accommodation in a five-star hotel. He had also held several meetings with officials during his two visits to Srinagar earlier this year.

Patel’s fraud was uncovered after an IAS officer informed the police about the visit of a senior PMO official last month. Intelligence agencies alerted the police about the impostor, and they were asked to arrest him from a hotel in Srinagar. Patel was arrested at least ten days ago, but his arrest was kept secret by the police. The details of his arrest only came to the fore after he was sent to judicial custody on Thursday.

Kiran Patel had also created a verified Twitter account with over a thousand followers, including Gujarat BJP general secretary Pradeepsinh Vaghela. In his Twitter bio, he claimed to hold a PhD from Commonwealth University, Virginia, an MBA from IIM Trichy, as well as an M.Tech in Computer Science and a B.E. in computer engineering. He described himself as an ideologist, strategist, analyst, and campaign manager.

During his first visit to the valley in February, Patel visited health resorts and was seen traveling to different places on behalf of the paramilitary and the police. He was seen posing for photographs in front of Clock Tower Lal Chowk in Srinagar and wading through the snow at Dudhpathri in Budgam with paramilitary guards.

Sources say Patel also held meetings with officials to discuss ways to bring more tourists from Gujarat and make Dudhpathri a major tourist destination. Action has been initiated against two police officers for their failure to detect the imposter in time, and a team of Gujarat Police is also joining the investigation.

The incident has raised concerns about the security of high-level officials and the need for better background checks to prevent such fraudsters from taking advantage of their false identities. It also highlights the importance of vigilance and timely action to prevent any potential security threats.