West Bengal Passport Fraud Scandal: Police Face Growing Criticism Over Verification Lapses

Kolkata, Dec 27 (NationPress) The police department in West Bengal, including the Kolkata Police, is experiencing intensified scrutiny after the uncovering of fraudulent Indian passport operations throughout the state. Concerns have been raised regarding the involvement of police officers responsible for performing routine verification, which is a vital step preceding the issuance of passports by local passport offices.

Questions have emerged about whether the police officers assigned to conduct physical verifications actually visited the homes of passport applicants. Allegedly, numerous officers neglected this requirement, opting instead to summon applicants to the police station for the verification process—this is a clear breach of established protocols.

The situation escalated after a city court, led by the chief judicial magistrate, instructed investigating officers to examine their fellow colleagues in the relevant police stations. These officers were responsible for verifying the backgrounds of individuals who later obtained fake passports using false identities.

In recent days, six individuals have been apprehended for their roles in securing fraudulent Indian passports for illegal residents from Bangladesh. The confiscated documents have prompted investigators to uncover additional individuals who may have participated in these illicit activities.

The chief judicial magistrate emphasized the necessity of holding police personnel accountable, asserting that the integrity of the verification process is crucial. Investigators have been directed to determine whether procedural oversights or possible collusion among police officers facilitated the issuance of these counterfeit passports.

According to standard operating procedures, police officers are required to visit the applicant’s residence to verify their identity and address. However, numerous complaints indicate that this rule is frequently disregarded, raising alarms about systemic failures.

The arrests and ongoing investigations are anticipated to illuminate the scope of the fraud and potentially reveal deeper issues within the police verification system.