Ahmedabad: In a major development, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested Harikesh Pranav Patel, the son of Gujarat Mahila Congress President Gitaben Patel, on charges of procuring a fake passport. Harikesh was apprehended from the Science City area in Ahmedabad following a tip-off regarding his fraudulent activities.
The accused is already embroiled in a 2022 money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). As part of the ongoing ED investigation, Harikesh’s original passport had been surrendered and deposited in court, and his bail order was subsequently cancelled by the agency.
Despite these legal restrictions, Harikesh allegedly managed to obtain a second passport using forged documents from another state. According to ATS investigations, he filed a false complaint with the Delhi Crime Branch claiming that his original passport was lost. To support his fraudulent application, he even created a fake rent agreement for a residence in Agra.
Using this fabricated paperwork, Harikesh successfully applied for a new passport at the Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Ghaziabad and acquired it in 2024. The investigation revealed that he orchestrated this entire operation with the help of a Delhi-based agent, reportedly paying around Rs 25 lakh for the illicit services.
Equipped with the new passport, the accused travelled extensively across international borders, including Nepal and Bhutan, and used these countries as transit points to fly to destinations like Bangkok, Dubai, and Singapore. Officials noted that he also stayed in Dubai for a prolonged period.
Gujarat ATS SP K. Siddharth stated that the ongoing police probe has unearthed several companies registered under Harikesh’s name, including suspected shell entities allegedly used for fraudulent activities. Furthermore, investigating agencies have identified multiple “mule” bank accounts linked to him.
The ATS is currently scrutinising these bank accounts and the broader network involved in the scam. The authorities have also formally informed the Enforcement Directorate about these latest findings. Notably, Harikesh has a history of legal troubles, having been previously arrested in cheating cases registered at the Naranpura police station and with the local Crime Branch.