stalled in Kolkata, West Bengal, throughout June 2026, after an adverse police verification report was triggered by the sudden deletion of his name from the state’s electoral rolls. The bureaucratic logjam, occurring right after he completed biometric formalities on March 19, forced the veteran journalist to miss his daughter’s wedding in the United States. The situation unfolded through the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) voter verification process, which flagged his residency as a “logical discrepancy,” leaving his passport applications stranded at the Regional Passport Office (RPO).
The issue came to light after Rajagopal shared a detailed personal note online, explaining that he did not wish to portray himself as a victim but rather wanted to highlight how vulnerable ordinary citizens are to systemic administrative errors. He noted that if a high-profile journalist could face such civic uncertainty, the difficulties for marginalized individuals would be far worse.
The disclosure quickly ignited a massive nationwide political controversy, drawing sharp criticism from major opposition parties including the Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), and CPI(M). Leaders have united to accuse the authorities of using the voter deletion drive to erode basic constitutional rights. Prominent politicians called the incident “alarming” and “irrational,” warning that provisional administrative findings are being weaponized to strip people of their right to travel and vote.
In response to the growing public anger, the Editors Guild of India and the Press Club of India issued strongly worded statements condemning the administrative delays, criticizing the institutional bureaucracy that dictates citizenship parameters.
Kolkata Police Statement:
“Voter ID cards may be requested for verification, but they are not the definitive document for local passport enquiries.”
Dhrubajyoti De, Additional Commissioner of Police (Special Branch)
The Kolkata Police have since initiated an internal file review to resolve the matter immediately. Meanwhile, Rajagopal’s legal appeal regarding his voter registration remains pending before a Supreme Court-mandated tribunal, with a formal review at the Regional Passport Office scheduled for July 17.
