Kolkata, May 15
The West Bengal Police, investigating a multi-crore fake passport racket, have uncovered documents indicating that several passports were issued to individuals who do not exist at all.
In a recent report submitted to the Calcutta High Court, investigators claimed that at least 37 such passports were found to have been issued to persons who could not be traced at the addresses mentioned in the documents.
During interrogation and field verification, officials could not find any evidence suggesting these individuals ever lived at the listed addresses.
Sources familiar with the investigation said the findings point to serious lapses in the physical verification process, which is mandatory for passport issuance.
As per norms, police verification officers are required to visit the applicant’s address in person for on-ground verification before clearing the application.
Two police personnel tasked with this verification process have already been named as accused in the case. They are Abdul Hai, a retired sub-inspector of Kolkata Police, and Mohammad Imran, a home guard attached to the Chandernagore Police Commissionerate in Hooghly district.