A social media personality with over 1.3 million followers on Instagram, Kirti Patel, was arrested in Ahmedabad this week after spending nearly 10 months on the run in a sensational honey-trapping and extortion case involving a prominent Surat-based builder.
Patel, who is popularly known by her alternate name Kirti Adalja, had been evading authorities since June 2024, after a First Information Report (FIR) named her among five individuals accused of blackmailing the builder for ₹2 crore. While the other four accused were swiftly taken into custody, Patel managed to stay under the radar by frequently shifting locations across Gujarat and using multiple SIM cards and digital identities.
Speaking to reporters, Surat Police DCP Alok Kumar revealed that Patel was finally apprehended from the Sarkhej area of Ahmedabad with the help of cyber cell experts and real-time coordination with local police teams. "She kept changing her IP addresses and mobile numbers to avoid being tracked. Her Instagram account remained active, which helped us monitor her online behavior,” said the DCP.
The arrest marks a turning point in a case that blurred the lines between online fame and criminality. Patel, despite being a fugitive, continued posting content on Instagram and YouTube, including a recent birthday video and visuals from the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. Her digital presence not only stayed active—it thrived, gathering likes and comments even as police worked to locate her.
“She had been issuing veiled threats and making provocative statements online, all while claiming innocence,” an official from the cybercrime unit said. Patel has nearly 200,000 subscribers on YouTube, where she began uploading videos in 2019.
In addition to the extortion case, Patel is also being investigated in other complaints, including land-related fraud and online intimidation. Officials have confirmed that her statement will be recorded in connection with these parallel investigations.
Following her arrest, Kirti Patel was presented before a Surat court, which had previously issued a warrant for her detention. Authorities say more revelations could emerge in the coming days, as they dig deeper into the case and her alleged criminal network.
