Ahmedabad: After eluding authorities for over 10 months, social media influencer Kirti Patel, also known as Kirit Adalja, was arrested in Ahmedabad this week, in connection with a high-profile extortion and honey-trapping case involving a notable builder in Surat.
The FIR filed in 2023, did lead to a court-issued order; however, Patel managed to remain underground until now.
Who Is Kirti Patel?
With more than 1.3 million followers on Instagram and nearly 2 lakh subscribers on YouTube, Patel carved a niche for herself by creating engaging street videos and showcasing her passion for motorcycles.
Patel also managed to maintain a polished digital presence. She was spotted at several religious gatherings, including the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, earlier this year.
Despite being a wanted accused, Patel kept her Instagram active. Her last post, uploaded just five days before her arrest, featured her interacting with children on the street, hinting at a calculated attempt to project normalcy.
However, there was a growing list of allegations behind her reels and religious devotion. According to the reports, Patel blackmailed a real estate developer and demanded crores, a case that came to light in June 2023. Four others named in the FIR had already been arrested, leaving Patel as the last major accused on the run.
From Instagram to Police Station
Surat Police revealed that Patel used multiple tactics to dodge arrest, by changing locations across Gujarat, swapping SIM cards, and obscuring her digital footprint through various IP addresses. She was finally traced to Sarkhej in Ahmedabad, with the help of cyber surveillance and coordination with Instagram.
Patel’s name has surfaced in other complaints as well, including land grabbing and extortion. In 2020, she was entangled in an attempted murder case filed by Raghu Bharwad, also known as Boliyo, who accused her of assault and public humiliation on TikTok. She had reportedly filed a counter-complaint.
That same year, Patel drew the attention of the Surat Wildlife Division for posting a TikTok video holding an owl, a protected species, leading to a Rs 25,000 fine for violating wildlife protection laws.
