Concerns are growing inside the FBI over the conduct of Director Kash Patel, with colleagues alleging that the Indian-origin agency chief has engaged in heavy drinking and unexplained absences that have affected his leadership.According to several current and former FBI officials, Patel’s behavior has caused concern within the Bureau and across all parts of the US government. Some have described his tenure as irregular, pointing to incidents where his actions created confusion and disrupted normal operations.One such episode occurred on April 10, when Patel struggled to log into internal systems and thought he was locked out. He thought he was fired from his job and panicked and contacted his colleagues. This situation caused concern within the FBI and calls to the White House and members of Congress regarding who was leading the agency. It was later discovered that the problem was a technical error.According to a report cited by The Atlantic, more than two dozen people, including FBI employees and others familiar with his work, told reporters that Patel was “erratic, suspicious of others and quick to jump to conclusions before he had the necessary evidence.” Several officers said his drinking had repeatedly been a matter of concern. She alleged that he appeared intoxicated on several occasions, including at private venues in Washington and on trips to Las Vegas. Some said meetings and briefings were delayed due to alcohol-related late nights.On more than one occasion, members of his security detail reportedly struggled to wake him up. In one instance, a request for “breach equipment” was made after failing to respond from behind closed doors.Officials have also expressed concern about their availability at critical moments. Some said they were worried about how he would respond in the event of a major security threat. Patel’s response to the death of MAGA commentator Charlie Kirk also faced backlash. One officer said, “This is the thing that keeps me up at night.”Patel’s presence has also been questioned. Sources cited by The Atlantic say he is often absent from FBI headquarters, causing delays in decision making. In some cases, this slowed down investigations and frustrated agents.His handling of sensitive matters has also drawn criticism. He publicly announced that the FBI had detained a “person of interest” in a high-profile shooting, but the person was later released as the investigation continued.Additionally, Patel has the strong support of US President Donald Trump and some in the GOP administration.Patel has denied the allegations. In a statement quoted by him, the FBI said: “Print it, it’s all lies, I’ll see you in court – bring your checkbook.”