Aadhaar cards found at TMC office in Bidhannagar, BLO arrested in Birbhum
Synopsis
Between 60 and 70 Aadhaar cards were found stacked inside a TMC party office in Kolkata's Bidhannagar on Sunday — with residents alleging the documents were deliberately withheld to stop certain voters from participating in recent elections. A near-identical recovery in Birbhum led to the arrest of a Booth Level Officer, raising the spectre of a coordinated pattern.
Key Takeaways
Between 60 and 70 Aadhaar cards were recovered from a TMC party office at Basanti Devi Colony, Ward No.
36 , Bidhannagar, on 17 May .
Locals alleged the cards were collected under the pretext of welfare scheme access and withheld to prevent certain residents from voting.
A large police contingent reached the spot; local TMC leaders may be questioned, according to police sources.
A similar recovery was reported in Nanoor, Birbhum district , where Aadhaar cards were found near a Booth Level Officer's residence.
The BLO in Birbhum has been arrested ; a detailed investigation is underway in both cases.
Dozens of Aadhaar cards were recovered from a local All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) party office in Bidhannagar's Ward No. 36 of the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation area on Sunday, 17 May, triggering sharp tension in the Salt Lake neighbourhood of Kolkata. Residents alleged the documents were withheld to prevent certain voters from casting their ballots in the recently concluded elections — a charge that has set off a police investigation into the local TMC leadership.
What Was Found and Where
According to residents, several locals entered the TMC office at Basanti Devi Colony in Ward No. 36 on Sunday morning and discovered multiple Aadhaar cards stacked neatly inside the premises. Locals claimed that between 60 and 70 Aadhaar cards were recovered from the office. As word spread, tension and commotion gripped the locality through the morning.
A large police contingent from the local station rushed to the spot following reports of the discovery. An investigation is underway to determine how such a volume of identity documents came to be stored at a political party office, and police sources indicated that members of the local TMC leadership could be questioned in connection with the incident.
Allegations of Voter Suppression
Residents alleged that Aadhaar cards had been collected from area households on multiple occasions under the pretext of facilitating access to government welfare schemes and services. According to these allegations, the cards were never returned. Locals further alleged that members of the local TMC leadership were involved in retaining the cards specifically to prevent certain individuals from voting in the recently concluded elections. These allegations have not been independently verified, and the TMC had not issued an official response at the time of reporting.
Similar Recovery in Birbhum District
The Bidhannagar incident was not isolated. A comparable recovery was reported from Nanoor in Birbhum district, where a large number of Aadhaar cards were reportedly found in a field adjacent to the residence of a Booth Level Officer (BLO). Police rushed to the location and recovered the cards. Following a preliminary investigation, the BLO was arrested. A detailed probe is underway to establish how the cards reached that location and why they had not been returned to the document holders.
Broader Context
The recovery of identity documents from politically affiliated premises ahead of or following elections has surfaced as a recurring concern in West Bengal. Aadhaar cards serve not only as identity proof but are increasingly required for access to welfare entitlements — making their retention a potential lever of both voter influence and benefit denial. This is the second such incident reported in the state within the same news cycle, raising questions about the scale and coordination of any alleged document-collection drive. Authorities have not yet drawn any formal connection between the two incidents.
The investigation by Bidhannagar Police is ongoing, and further questioning of local party figures is expected in the coming days.
Point of View
It points to a deliberate strategy of document retention as a tool of electoral control. What makes this more significant is the near-simultaneous Birbhum case, which suggests a possible pattern rather than an isolated incident. The arrest of a Booth Level Officer — a government functionary — in Birbhum adds institutional weight to what could otherwise be dismissed as a local dispute. West Bengal's election-season tensions are well-documented, but the use of identity documents as leverage deserves focused scrutiny from the Election Commission of India, not just local police.
NationPress
18 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the TMC office in Bidhannagar?
Between 60 and 70 Aadhaar cards were discovered stacked inside a Trinamool Congress party office at Basanti Devi Colony in Ward No. 36, Bidhannagar, on Sunday, 17 May. Locals alleged the cards had been collected under the pretext of welfare scheme facilitation and were never returned, purportedly to prevent certain residents from voting.
What action has the police taken so far?
A large police contingent from the local station reached the Bidhannagar TMC office after receiving information about the recovery, and an investigation is underway. Police sources indicated that local TMC leaders could be questioned. In the related Birbhum case, the Booth Level Officer at whose residence similar cards were found has been arrested.
What is the allegation against the TMC in this case?
Residents allege that TMC members collected Aadhaar cards from locals on multiple occasions, claiming it was to help them access government welfare schemes, but retained the documents to stop certain people from voting in recently concluded elections. These are allegations made by locals and have not been independently verified; TMC had not issued an official response at the time of reporting.
Was a similar incident reported elsewhere in West Bengal?
Yes. A comparable recovery was reported from Nanoor in Birbhum district, where a large number of Aadhaar cards were found in a field next to the residence of a Booth Level Officer. Police recovered the cards and subsequently arrested the BLO following a preliminary investigation.
Why does retaining Aadhaar cards matter in an election context?
Aadhaar cards serve as a primary identity document and are required for access to government welfare entitlements. Allegations suggest that withholding them could prevent individuals from proving their identity at polling booths or accessing benefits, effectively functioning as a tool of voter suppression if the claims are substantiated.
