Gujarat ATS Books Ex-PAAS Leader for Procuring Second Passport on Fake Papers to Bypass ED Travel Ban
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The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has booked an Ahmedabad resident for allegedly obtaining a second Indian passport through forged documents after surrendering his original passport to a court in a high-profile money-laundering case.
The accused, Harikesh Pranavkumar Patel, a resident of Shahibaug, allegedly used fake address proofs to acquire a fresh travel document from Uttar Pradesh to flee abroad despite ongoing Enforcement Directorate (ED) proceedings against him.
Harikhesh Patel was a former key functionary of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and was part of the quota agitation led by now-BJP MLA Hardik Patel in Gujarat. He is also the son of a prominent Ahmedabad Congress worker.
Forged Addresses and Manufactured Paperwork
Investigative findings led by Police Inspector J P Rojiya and Police Inspector B H Korot revealed that Patel's original passport had been deposited with law enforcement authorities as part of the ED probe into the Powerbank App money-laundering scam.
When his anticipatory bail plea faced rejection, Patel approached the High Court while simultaneously lodging a false loss report with the Delhi Crime Branch, claiming his passport was misplaced.
To orchestrate his escape route, Patel allegedly executed the following steps:
- Fake Tenancy Agreements: Fabricated rental contracts to show fake residential addresses in Delhi and Agra.
- Agra Identity Proof: Obtained an identity card bearing the fake Agra address based on forged documents.
- Ghaziabad Passport Issuance: Applied for and secured a second Indian passport from the Regional Passport Office in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, on July 26, 2024.
Overseas Travel via Neighbouring Transit Routes
Equipped with the fraudulently acquired passport, Patel managed to exit and re-enter the country using circuitous international routes to evade border checkpoints.
According to ATS officials, Patel flew from India to Bhutan, before travelling onward to Bangkok, Singapore, and Dubai. He later made his return journey back into India through Nepal.
Multiple Charges Levied Under New Penal Code
The ATS has registered an official case against Patel under corresponding provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with relevant charges under the Passports Act, 1967.
Officers confirmed that Patel carries a prior criminal record, including an earlier case registered by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch in 2023 involving cheating, IT Act violations, and provisions under the Companies Act. Detailed investigations remain ongoing to track his complete foreign itinerary and identify any accomplices who facilitated the illegal documentation.
