SRINAGAR: The Enforcement Directorate’s Srinagar Zonal Office conducted searches at 12 locations in Gujarat as part of an ongoing investigation into conman Kiranbhai Jagdishbhai Patel, also known as Kiran Patel, and his associates. Kiran Patel and his associates had impersonated as Additional Director PMO (Strategies and Campaigns) in Kashmir.
Under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the searches took place at 12 locations in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Morbi, and Mehsana, targeting the premises of Kiran Patel and his associates. The associates involved are Jay Savjibhai Sitapara, Hardik Kishorbhai Chandrana, Vitthalbhai Motibhai Patel, Amit Pandya, and Piyush Kantibhai Vasita.
Kiran Patel, through fraudulent means, posed as “Dr. Kiran Patel, Additional Director, PMO (Strategies & Campaigns),” a senior government official serving in the PMO. He engaged in cheating, forgery, and impersonation to deceive unsuspecting individuals as part of an elaborate scheme to obtain financial and material benefits.
The investigation by the Enforcement Directorate was initiated based on FIR No. 19/2023 dated 02-03-2023, filed under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, and 471 of the Indian Penal Code at Police Station Nishat, Srinagar, against Kiran Patel.
Further scrutiny under the PMLA uncovered that Kiran Patel had a history of scams and impersonation, with six additional FIRs registered against him and his family members in Gujarat. They defrauded people by falsely presenting themselves as high-ranking government officials and showcasing political connections.
During the searches, incriminating materials and documents relating to immovable properties were recovered and seized by the Enforcement Directorate teams.
The investigation into Kiran Patel’s activities in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as other locations, is still ongoing.
Pertinent to mention, The bail application of Patel Kiran Jagdish Bhai, who is facing charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) including 419, 420, 467, 468, and 471, was rejected by the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Srinagar. The decision was made due to the exceptional circumstances surrounding the case and the ongoing investigation.
During the investigation, it was discovered that the accused had a history of similar offenses, with several cases registered against him in Gujarat. The Crime Branch Gujarat had requested a change of custody to complete the investigation in their case, leading to the accused being transferred to their custody temporarily. However, as the investigation in the present case was incomplete, the accused was handed back to the Police Station Nishat, Srinagar.
The bail application was rejected based on the observations made by the court in the previous bail application, which highlighted the gravity of the charges and the ongoing investigation. The court deemed it necessary to keep the accused in custody, considering the potential impact on national security and the involvement of multiple co-conspirators who are yet to be apprehended.
