Fake Documents, Real Consequences
The Kolkata Police have uncovered a major passport racket where 73 Indian passports were issued to Bangladeshi citizens using forged documents. This revelation has sparked serious concerns regarding the passport verification process in West Bengal. The authorities have arrested six individuals so far, with investigations revealing the use of fake West Bengal board mark sheets, PAN cards, Aadhaar cards, and voter cards.
Sources state that the police had sought verification of the provided addresses from various local bodies, including Barasat Municipality, Bangaon Municipality, and Kadambagachi Gram Panchayat. However, these bodies confirmed that the addresses were nonexistent, further deepening the mystery.
Manoj Verma, Police Commissioner of Kolkata, confirmed that the police have had a detailed discussion with passport officers about the lapses in the verification process and the necessary steps to rectify the situation. Verma assured the public that the police have briefed all officers in the district about the guidelines issued by the Ministry of External Affairs to prevent further such incidents.
The investigation has led to the arrest of Moktar Alam, a repeat offender involved in similar cases. Last week, five other individuals were arrested for allegedly running the passport fraud racket, selling forged documents for amounts ranging from Rs 2 to 5 lakh.
This case has exposed significant flaws in the system, leaving many to question the security and reliability of passport issuance in the state. The ongoing investigation aims to identify and punish those responsible for this serious breach of trust.
