Weeks after Ahmedabad resident Kiran Patel’s arrest in Jammu and Kashmir for posing as an officer from the Prime Minister Office (PMO) and questioning of his son in the case, additional public relations officer (PRO) to Gujarat chief minister, Hitesh Pandya, on Friday resigned from his post.
Pandya had been PRO of Gujarat chief minister office for over two decades since the time of late chief minister Keshubhai Patel, the first BJP CM of Gujarat. Pandya went on to serve Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was the chief minister for over 12 years, followed by Anandi Patel, Vijay Rupani and incumbent Bhupendra Patel.
When contacted, Pandya confirmed to DH that he had resigned. Giving reasons he told DH, “I have resigned taking moral responsibility…my son (sic) name has been dragged in the conman scandal by media…without proof.” He added, “Reports in media were baseless.”
On March 3, when Jammu and Kashmir police arrested Kiran Patel for impersonating an officer from PMO, there were at least two other persons who were accompanying him. One of them is reported to be Hitesh Pandya’s son, Amit. The J&K police have questioned Amit in this case. The third person has been identified as Jai Sitapara, who is a resident of Rajkot. Pandyas are also originally from Rajkot.