Srinagar: Police on Sunday said that providing security cover and a bullet-proof vehicle to a conman from Gujarat who posed as a PMO official was not an intelligence failure but a “mistake” which is being investigated and action will be taken against everyone involved in it.
Kiran Bhai Patel from Gujarat has been arrested by police from a five-star hotel in Srinagar for posing as an ‘additional secretary’ in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and enjoying security cover besides other hospitality.
He had three cases registered against him in his home state.
Interacting with reporters on the sidelines of an event here, the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, said a case has been registered in the matter and investigations are being conducted.
“When the Srinagar Police got the information on March 02, the hotel was raided and the man was caught red-handed. Fake visiting cards were seized from him and he was arrested the same day after registration of a case,” Kumar said.
He said Patel was in police remand for 14 days during which “a rigorous interrogation was done, and investigations were conducted”.
The Kashmir Police chief said the force is also taking help from the Gujarat police.
“He (Patel) is now in judicial custody. Investigations are being conducted professionally. We are taking help from the Gujarat police also. No one will be spared,” Kumar added.
Asked how the person was provided security on verbal orders when there were directions from the MHA contrary to that, the ADGP said the police are investigating the lapse.
“Standard operating procedures are already in place and instructions are given regularly. But, the police should not provide security on verbal directions. We do not do it. We are checking the lapse in the present case and action will be taken against the officer involved in this,” Kumar said.
The police officer, however, refused to describe the case as a fallout of intelligence failure. “There was negligence at the level of a field officer and action will be taken,” Kumar said, adding “It was not an intelligence failure but yes a mistake for sure which is being investigated.”
About the query about the possible rise in the crime rates here, Kumar said that there is no surge in the crimes but there is an increase in reporting the crimes by the people who trust the police for its thorough investigations.
“Crime cases are being investigated thoroughly and culprits are being arrested and punished as well,” he said.
On attaching the properties, he said that “properties used for terrorist activity or used by terrorists for shelter will be attached — be that a vehicle, building or a house.”
