Srinagar, Mar 29: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Wednesday ordered a time-bound inquiry and appointed Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri as the inquiry officer to probe various aspects related to the visits of Gujarat conman to Kashmir.
According to an order issued by J&K Home Department, “Sanction is hereby accorded to the appointment of Shri Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, IAS, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, as Inquiry Officer to inquire into the various aspects related to the visits of Shri Kiran Patel to Kashmir during the past months and security arrangements made thereof,” reads an order by J&K’s Home Department.
“The Inquiry Officer shall identify the lapses on the part of the Officers/ Officials concerned and submit a detailed report within one week,” the order reads.
On March 02, the CID wing of J&K Police gave information to the Police about the arrival of an impersonator in Kashmir. SSP Srinagar immediately sent a team led by SP East to Lalit hotel.
A police spokesman said 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,” he said.
As per Police 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 Patel was arrested on 03-03-2023 and is in police remand up to 17-03-2023,” the spokesman said.
He said that many relevant persons have been examined in this case. Case is at the initial stage of investigation and further details of this case will be shared later.
“It is also pertinent to mention that there are three cases registered against the above fraudster in different Police stations in Gujrat: Raopura Police Station, Baroda city Case,” the spokesman said.
Two associates of Kiran Patel under police custody for questioning. They have been identified as Amit Pandya and Jai Sitapara.
The team of Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Gujarat was earlier stationed in Kashmir to investigate the case of the high profile Gujarat conman in Kashmir.
Earlier this month, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Vijay Kumar stated that the Gujarat conman was given the security cover due to failure of some field officers noting that action will be taken against all such officers.
Patel also visited border areas and visited high-security areas. It is a matter of concern for security agencies in the Valley. He also posted on social media account several videos and pictures of his visits. He also held a series of meetings with officials during his two visits to Srinagar earlier this year.
In his Twitter bio he claims to have a PhD from Commonwealth University, Virginia, an MBA from IIM Trichy, as well as an M.Tech in Computer Science and B.E. in Computer Engineering.
The accused was the second visit to Kashmir, he had come earlier in February, and now on his second visit in March, he is arrested by police.
