Harikesh Patel
Naranpura police registered a case in 2022 under provisions related to criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery, conspiracy and cyberfraud. Ahmedabad: Former Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) member Harikesh Patel, arrested by Gujarat ATS for allegedly obtaining a second passport using forged documents, has been remanded in police custody till Saturday. Patel has two other criminal cases against him.
ATS sources said Patel had originally been named as an accused in Enforcement Directorate’s investigation into the Rs 50 crore Power Bank app fraud case, but was later converted into a witness. The agency said it acted on specific information and launched an investigation before tracing and arresting Patel.
Patel had surrendered his Indian passport to a court during proceedings in connection with Enforcement Directorate ’s money-laundering case linked to the Power Bank app scam, according to ATS officers. ATS officers said Patel used the second passport to travel to Bangkok, Singapore, and Dubai. Patel’s anticipatory bail application was rejected, following which he approached Gujarat High Court.