Passport deadlock cleared for R. Rajagopal: Kolkata authorities resume renewal process for veteran journalist

KOLKATA: The passport renewal process for R. Rajagopal, veteran journalist and former editor of The Telegraph, has commenced following a major national controversy surrounding the withholding of his travel documents. The Kolkata Police have completed the necessary re-verification process and officially transferred the verification report to the passport office, clearing the way for the formal issuance of the renewed passport.

The re-verification procedures began on Tuesday after authorities from the Kolkata passport office contacted Rajagopal to inform him that they were moving forward with his renewal. Rajagopal confirmed that he has received the official online link required to submit his application for the re-verification process. Commenting on the breakthrough, Rajagopal suggested that the joint mobilisation of the Bengal police and passport authorities to process his long-withheld documents was likely catalysed by the direct intervention of the West Bengal Chief Minister.

The administrative hurdle originally arose after Rajagopal’s name was deleted from the electoral roll in Kolkata’s Ballygunge constituency last March. The deletion followed Special Intensive Revision (SIR) procedures, with election officials claiming that neither Rajagopal’s name nor that of his late father could be located in the 2002 voter list. The resulting omission from the voter list subsequently disrupted his passport renewal verification.

The issue rapidly escalated into a national political talking point, drawing sharp criticism and intensifying pressure on authorities to take corrective action. A letter seeking immediate intervention was dispatched by V.D. Satheesan, the Chief Minister of Kerala, to Suvendu Adhikari, the Chief Minister of West Bengal. In a further show of political solidarity, All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretaries K.C. Venugopal and Deepa Dasmunsi visited Rajagopal at his Kolkata residence on Tuesday.

With the Kolkata Police having successfully submitted the updated verification report to the regional passport office, the bureaucratic deadlock has been resolved. The passport authorities are currently executing the final procedural steps to finalise and deliver the renewed passport to the veteran journalist.