A conman impersonating a senior official of the Indian Prime Minister’s Office has been handed over to Gujarat police from Kashmir. Kiran Bai Patel had availed himself Z-Plus security and official protocol in the Valley, duping people of lakhs of rupees. He was arrested a month ago and had visited forward posts along the Line of Control before police were alerted that Patel was a conman.

A conman from Gujarat who had been posing as a senior official from the Indian Prime Minister’s Office was handed over to Gujarat police after being arrested in Kashmir a month ago. Kiran Bai Patel managed to get Z-Plus security and official protocol in the Valley while taking the administration for a ride for four months. Patel had visited multiple locations in Jammu and Kashmir, including forward posts along the Line of Control, and held meetings with officials in various districts across Kashmir before police were alerted that Patel was a conman. He was given Z-Plus security by the security wing and the local police accompanied the “VIP” wherever he and his team visited. The self-styled “PMO team” had been visiting Kashmir since October last year. The arrest of the conman has led to authorities ordering a probe into how he managed to remain undetected for four months. Patel also allegedly duped people of lakhs of rupees in the Kashmir Valley, and he is wanted in cases in the western state of Gujarat.