Identified as Kiran J Patel, the man from Gujarat also held meetings with officers of the Union territory and travelled to sensitive areas along the Line of Control (LOC), Gulmarg, Doodhpathri, etc.
[Representational Photo : iStock]
The J&K Police has arrested a conman, who impersonated as a top officer in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), made at least three trips to Kashmir enjoying VVIP treatment in five-star hotels, bulletproof cars and Z+ security cover of paramilitary forces.
Identified as Kiran J Patel, the conman from Gujarat also held meetings with officers of the Union territory and travelled to sensitive areas along the Line of Control (LOC), Gulmarg, Doodpathri, etc. where he got himself photographed with security personnel standing around him.
He took the J&K administration for a ride by impersonating as an additional director for strategy and campaigns in the PMO. He reportedly claimed that the government had tasked him to look for improvement in hotel facilities in the important tourist destinations.
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Patel has a verified Twitter handle and has over a thousand followers. He was arrested by alert security officials on 3 March during his third visit to the Kashmir Valley. He was arrested by police from a 5-star hotel in Srinagar.
Patel was produced before a court in Srinagar last evening for the extension of his police remand. A case under relevant sections of cheating and forgery was registered against him.
He posted on his social media account several videos and pictures of his visits to Kashmir.
Security agencies got suspicious after he landed at the Srinagar airport on 2 March as there was no information of any VIP movement.
After his questioning and subsequent arrest, security officials reportedly recovered forged identity cards from his possession.
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