Jammu & Kashmir to probe security arrangements made for fake PMO official

The home department has directed divisional commissioner (Kashmir) V K Bidhuri to conduct the inquiry within a week.

Written by Naveed Iqbal

Srinagar | Updated: March 30, 2023 05:51 AM IST

2 min read

An undated photo of Kiran Patel with his security. Kiran Patel has been arrested for cheating, forgery and impersonation as an as an additional director. (PTI Photo)

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More than three weeks after the arrest of Kiran Patel, the man from Gujarat who allegedly impersonated an official from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Jammu and Kashmir administration has ordered a probe into lapses on part of its officers to provide security and other perks during his visits to Kashmir.

The alleged impersonator, Patel, had pulled off high-profile meetings with bureaucrats in J&K, and managed to get accommodation in upscale hotels and Z-plus security. He allegedly told officials that he worked as an Additional Director (Planning and Strategy) in the PMO.

On Wednesday, the J&K Home Department designated Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir) V K Bidhuri to “inquire into the various aspects related to the visits of Kiran Patel to Kashmir during the past months and security arrangements made thereof.”

The order also stated that the officer will “identify lapses on the part of officers/officials concerned and submit a detailed report within a week”.

Announcing his arrest on March 17, the police had said that on March 2, the “CID wing of J&K Police gave information to police about the arrival of an impersonator in Kashmir.” On questioning, police said, Patel’s replies were found “suspicious” and he was taken to Nishat police station, where he “admitted his crime”.

“Ten fake visiting cards and two mobiles (phones) were seized from him,” the police had said.

Two associates, Amit Pandiya and Jay Sitapore, both from Gujarat, were also detained for questioning but were later allowed to leave and return to Ahmedabad, according to sources. Police claimed “relevant persons have been examined in the case”.

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Questions have been raised over the release of the two associates who were traveling with Patel over the last several months.

The J&K administration stated that three cases were registered against Patel in different police stations of Gujarat: Raopura in Vadodara, Naroda in Ahmedabad, and Bayad police station in Aravali.

In J&K, Patel was booked under IPC Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 471.

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Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister's Office