Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, December 28, 2024, Kolkata : Kolkata Police have come under scrutiny following a court’s reprimand over the issue of fake passports, which has raised concerns about the quality of police verification processes. Multiple instances of negligence during passport verification have been uncovered, prompting the authorities to reassess and tighten their approach.
In response to the growing concerns, Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma revealed that significant changes would be implemented in the police’s role in passport verification. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Verma outlined a series of measures aimed at addressing the shortcomings identified during recent investigations.
As part of the new directives, the police verification process will be considerably more stringent. The city’s mayor has issued instructions to all police stations, emphasizing the critical importance of thorough passport verification. Under the revised system, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of each police station must coordinate closely with the nodal officer before proceeding with any passport issuance. Special attention will be given to confirming accurate details, including the applicant’s criminal record, date of birth, and address, particularly in cases involving foreign nationals.
Furthermore, the verification process will now involve an additional layer of oversight. Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) and Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) will be directly responsible for ensuring that all aspects of the passport verification, including address validation, are thoroughly checked. These officers will also be required to record the details of their verification process in a dedicated logbook, ensuring a transparent and accountable record in case any issues arise in the future.
The verified information will also be integrated into a national portal, enhancing coordination and consistency across the country. This overhaul of the verification protocol is expected to ensure a more robust process, preventing the issuance of fake passports and strengthening the integrity of the system.
With these changes, Kolkata Police aim to restore public trust in the passport verification process and align with national security standards, ensuring that such lapses do not recur in the future.