Penny wise and pound wiser. That was Kiran Patel’s guiding creed. Not only did he hoodwink the entire Jammu and Kashmir administration into “official” privileges during his two trips to the valley, the Ghodasar resident was careful to “take back” the visiting cards handed out to officials.
Investigation now reveals that Patel had 10 cards printed at a total Rs 100 from the printing press at Maninagar. His designation mentions “Additional Director (Strategy and Campaigns),” PMO. Additionally, his social media handle tags him as a “creative consultant” with the Union Government of India.
“He used these visiting cards in his meetings with four bureaucrats, some senior BJP leaders, and police officers in Srinagar during his last visit in February and March,” said a source privy to the matter. When asked about taking back the cards, the official shared: “We have now learnt that he would simply say that he is running short of cards or that he forgot to carry extra for the day ahead,” the official replied.
Patel and his accomplices – Amit Pandya and Jay Sitapara – would call a senior police officer in Srinagar to arrange for a hotel, Z+ security, and a bulletproof vehicle. In fact, shortly before he was called out, “he reprimanded a senior police officer for not providing a mobile-signal jammer to accompany his escort in Srinagar.”
Back home in Gujarat, Pandya and Sitapara sold dreams of plots for sale in the Valley. “The trio would target senior leaders and retired government officers. We have good reason to believe he was backed by bigwigs. The access to liberties is only when one knows what the liberties are. Patel seemed in complete know of official protocols,” shared an investigating officer from Gujarat Police.
Finally arrested on March 2 by Srinagar Police from room number 1107 at Hotel Lalit, he was accompanied by Pandya and Sitapara, said the source. He has been charged with violating IPC Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, and 471 (cheating by impersonation, forgery of valuable security, forgery for the purpose of cheating and producing forged documents as genuine).
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