# Gujarat ATS arrests Congress leader’s son over fake passport

2026-09-16T10:17:07+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

The Gujarat ATS has arrested Harikesh Patel, son of Gujarat Mahila Congress president Gitaben Patel, for allegedly obtaining a second passport using forged documents. Officials say he surrendered his original passport in court during an ED probe into an online investment fraud case, then filed a false lost passport complaint in Delhi. Using a fabricated rental agreement showing an Agra address, he obtained a new passport from Ghaziabad in July 2024. The ATS says Harikesh used the second passport to travel to Bangkok, Dubai and Singapore via Bhutan and Nepal. He was arrested on September 13 near Science City in Ahmedabad. A case has been registered under forgery and passport law sections. Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said the law must take its course. Further investigation is underway.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Both outlets report identical core facts: the arrest, the alleged false passport complaint, the agent and the Rs 25 lakh payment, and the connection to an ED case. Hindustan Times leads with the political identity of the accused, naming him as the son of a Congress leader in the headline and quoting the party. New Indian Express leads with the accused's full name and the ATS SP's statement, keeping the political link to the second paragraph. Neither outlet questions the ATS's account. The uniform coverage suggests a straightforward crime report with no competing political framing. The investigation's next step will be the ATS's examination of how the Ghaziabad passport office issued the second passport despite the existing one.

## Coverage

- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/gujarat-ats-arrests-congress-leader-gitaben-patel-s-son-in-fake-passport-case-101789548935477.html>
  Leads with political identity, includes party quote but no criticism of ATS.
- newindianexpress.com (neutral report) <https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/gujarat/2026/Sep/16/gujarat-ats-arrests-congress-leaders-son-in-fake-passport-case>
  Leads with ATS SP's statement and crime detail, political link lowered.

Tags: Ahmedabad, Enforcement Directorate, Gitaben Patel, Gujarat ATS, Harikesh Patel
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