Veteran Gujarat CMO official quits, admits son’s links with conman in J&K - The Indian Express
A SENIOR official in the Gujarat Chief Minister's Office resigned Friday over links between his son, who is a businessman associated with the BJP, and "conman" Kiran Patel, who is in J&K custody for posing as an official of the Prime Minister's Office.
Hitesh Pandya, additional public relations officer in the Gujarat CMO, submitted his resignation Friday evening after nearly 22 years in the office where he served under five chief ministers, including Keshubhai Patel, Narendra Modi, Anandiben Patel, Vijay Rupani and Bhupendra Patel.
Speaking to The Indian Express, 73-year-old Pandya said, "I have tendered my resignation to the Chief Minister (Bhupendra Patel). Nobody asked me to resign. I felt I should resign. I will wind up my pending work by March 31 and be relieved from the office."
Earlier, speaking to this newspaper hours before his resignation, Pandya acknowledged that his 43-year-old son Amit had visited J&K this month along with Kiran Patel "for business purpose" with his consent. Amit and another man identified as Jay Sitapara were accompanying Kiran Patel when he was arrested in J&K earlier this month. Amit and Sitapara have been called by J&K police for questioning in the case.
According to Pandya, Amit is "innocent" and "a witness" in the case against Kiran Patel. Asked about his son's current location, Pandya said, "He is in Kashmir indeed. And I have been saying from day one that he had been called (by J&K police) to record his statement as a witness."
According to Pandya, his son deals in home security appliances like CCTV cameras through his firm Safe Solution. He also said that Amit has been associated with the BJP and was convener of the party's social media cell in Gujarat's North Zone.
"As part of party reshuffle, he was relieved of his responsibilities as convener of the party's social media cell's north zone in January this year," Pandya said. When contacted, the cell's state convenor Manan Dani confirmed that Amit was the convenor for North Zone till January 2023.
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Pandya, meanwhile, denied any knowledge of Kiran Patel having any links to the CMO. But he acknowledged that in 2011, Patel was associated with a private organisation floated by him called Nation First Foundation (NFF).
"I started it in 2011 to propagate Modi saheb's ideas. I am the founder of the organisation…Our work was only related to serving the nation. Then we had done a Bharat Jago Abhiyan to create awareness among people towards the BJP government's works and projects… He (Kiran Patel) came into contact because he was with Amit. And he joined NFF," Pandya said.
Asked specifically about Amit's association with Kiran Patel, Pandya said, "They were working in a publicity company in 2004. And I know him as Amit's friend… But in 2011 itself, I realised that he (Kiran) was not a person to be kept with us. So, I relieved him and all the people with him (from NFF)…I did not find his dealings and billing proper…Then, he (Kiran Patel) started his own organisation".
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Asked why he didn't warn his son about Kiran Patel, Pandya said, "As a friend he can be with anyone. Secondly, he is a businessman. If you think that a person can get you business, why would you break the relationship? He was keeping him away without snapping the relationship."
This, Pandya said, changed after Amit suffered a "rare heart condition". "In September last year, Amit's heart had stopped… and he still survived. I had written a story about that in some newspapers. He (Kiran) read it and reached the hospital to see Amit. After that, he increased his contact with Amit. Then, he told Amit that he has lot of work in Kashmir and he can go with him."
According to Pandya, Amit left for J&K with Kiran Patel "after asking me". "He had gone for business purpose…He wanted to put forward a business proposal related to CCTVs," he said.
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"After Kiran's arrest, Amit and Jay were kept in a hotel and their statements recorded. Then, they were let go and told that they will have to come whenever called…His statement was recorded as a witness," he said.
According to Pandya, "After getting to know about the case (from Amit), I immediately informed the Chief Minister (Bhupendra Patel) and others who I felt needed to be informed."
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Pandya has had one of the longest tenures in the Gujarat CMO, having been posted there since 2001 initially as assistant PRO in a lateral appointment. He was earlier employed with Life Corporation of India, and had also worked with Rajkot daily "Phulchhab".
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