Aadhaar cards found in locked Trinamool office in Kolkata's Tangra
Synopsis
A locked Trinamool Congress office in Kolkata's Tangra yielded multiple Aadhaar cards on 28 May — documents that some residents say they never received despite completing enrolment. With unverified claims of possible voter ID fraud and police now investigating, the find has put a political party office at the centre of a sensitive identity-document controversy in post-election West Bengal.
Key Takeaways
Multiple Aadhaar cards were recovered from a locked Trinamool Congress office on East Kuliya Road, Tangra, Kolkata on 28 May .
The office had reportedly remained shut since 4 May , when Assembly election results were declared.
Residents broke open the lock and found the cards inside a cupboard ; some claimed they never received their own Aadhaar cards.
At least one resident alleged his daughter's card was issued but never delivered, suggesting possible withholding of documents.
Unverified claims have surfaced that the cards may have been intended for fraudulent voter ID creation — no official confirmation has been made.
Police have launched an investigation; the Trinamool Congress has not issued any official response.
Multiple Aadhaar cards were recovered from a locked All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) party office in Kolkata's Tangra area on Thursday, 28 May, triggering a wave of questions among local residents about how the identity documents ended up inside a political party's premises. Police have been informed and an investigation is underway.
How the Discovery Unfolded
The office, located on East Kuliya Road, had reportedly remained shut since 4 May — the date Assembly election results were declared. A section of local residents broke open the lock and entered the premises, where the Aadhaar cards were discovered inside a cupboard.
The find drew a crowd outside the office, with residents expressing surprise over the presence of the documents. Some individuals said they already held their original Aadhaar cards, while others claimed they had never received theirs despite having completed the enrolment process.
Resident Allegations and Unverified Claims
At least one local resident alleged that his daughter's Aadhaar card had been officially issued but never delivered to the family, raising suspicion that the documents may have been withheld after despatch. Several residents also made unverified claims that the cards could have been intended for the creation of fraudulent voter identity documents, though no official confirmation of these allegations has been provided so far.
Notably, the office falls under the Beliaghata Assembly constituency. Local sources said the premises were earlier associated with Trinamool leader Jiban Kumar Saha, but had seen little party activity in the weeks following the election, with few members visiting.
Police Response
Police were alerted shortly after the discovery and have launched a formal investigation into the matter. Authorities have not yet disclosed how many Aadhaar cards were recovered or whether any have been linked to specific complaints of non-delivery.
No Official TMC Response Yet
As of the time of reporting, the Trinamool Congress had issued no official statement regarding the recovery. Questions about why a large number of government-issued identity documents were stored inside a party office remain unanswered pending the police probe.
Investigators are expected to determine the provenance of the cards and whether any laws governing identity document handling were violated. The outcome of the inquiry could have broader implications for how identity documents are managed in the run-up to and aftermath of elections in West Bengal.
Point of View
The gap between issuance and delivery deserves scrutiny beyond this single incident. The unverified voter-ID fraud allegations, while unconfirmed, land in a state already under intense post-election scrutiny. The Trinamool Congress's silence so far is conspicuous; a credible explanation from the party or the administration is overdue. Police must establish not just how the cards got there, but who placed them — and when.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was found inside the Trinamool Congress office in Kolkata's Tangra?
Multiple Aadhaar cards — government-issued identity documents — were found inside a cupboard in a locked Trinamool Congress party office on East Kuliya Road, Tangra, Kolkata, on 28 May. The office had reportedly been shut since 4 May when Assembly election results were declared.
Why were residents concerned about the Aadhaar cards found in the TMC office?
Several residents said they had never received their Aadhaar cards despite completing enrolment, and at least one person alleged his daughter's card was issued but never delivered. This raised suspicion that the documents may have been withheld after despatch.
Have there been allegations of voter ID fraud linked to the recovered Aadhaar cards?
Some residents made unverified claims that the cards may have been intended for creating fraudulent voter identity documents. However, no official confirmation of these allegations has been provided, and the matter is under police investigation.
What action has been taken after the Aadhaar cards were discovered?
Police were informed shortly after the discovery and have launched a formal investigation. Authorities have not yet disclosed the exact number of cards recovered or confirmed any link to specific non-delivery complaints.
Has the Trinamool Congress responded to the Aadhaar card recovery?
As of the time of reporting, the Trinamool Congress had issued no official statement. The office is said to have been earlier associated with Trinamool leader Jiban Kumar Saha and had seen little party activity since the elections.
