Under RTI Act, Advocate seeks details of officials, meetings, expenditure spent on fake PMO official in Kashmir

Srinagar, Apr 01: An Advocate from Srinagar has filed an application under RTI Act to seek details about expenditure spent on trips, accommodation and security of Gujarat man who impersonated as PMO official.

As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the applicant has further sought details of the officials who held “official meetings” with conman; name of departments which spent “public money” on his transportation and accommodation.

As reported earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered an inquiry to probe into various aspects related to visits of alleged Gujarat conman, Kiran Patel to Kashmir during the past months and security arrangements made during his visit.

In his application, Advocate Aamir Masoodi has sought details of total amount spent on accommodation, transportation and other expenses of Patel on his last two visits to Kashmir.

An application addressed to Designated Information Officer in the office of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, the applicant has also sought details of concerned department who has paid the whole amount on behalf of Patel on his last two visits to Kashmir.

It further sought name of government officials posted in Kashmir who had meetings with Patel during his visits to Kashmir.

Patel was 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. On his arrest in Srinagar, FIR No 19 of 2023 was registered against him at Police Station Nishat for criminal intention and indulging in activities by employing high degree of forged means.

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar has said they were checking the lapses in the present case and action will be taken against the officer involved.

“There was negligence on the level of a field officer and action will be taken,” Kumar said, adding that the police acted quickly against Patel when they got to know about the case.