​Ex-Telegraph Editor Rajagopal’s Passport Renewal Case Handled By Agency That Deports Foreigners

Is it an unintended consequence of administrative databa​ses being interconnected? Or sheer bureaucratic indifference? Or the targeted harassment of a senior journalist by state machinery?

Whatever the reason, former Telegraph editor R Rajagopal’s story has attracted national attention after his passport renewal application became linked to the deletion of his name from the electoral roll in West Bengal during a Special Intensive Revision (SIR), an exercise by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to identify and strike out ineligible voters. The names of nearly 6 crore people have so far been deleted from electoral rolls across India following this exercise.

In the first place, nothing appears to justify the deletion of his name from the electoral roll in Kolkata’s Ballygunge constituency. Worse, his case was startlingly escalated to the level of the Security Control Organisation (SCO), which primarily handles registration work relating to foreigners other than Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Nepalese nationals and also issues them deportation orders, according to the Kolkata Police website.

Ironically, Rajagopal’s efforts to renew his passport ran into trouble because the state police did not submit a positive verification report, arguing that his name no longer appeared on the electoral roll. He had completed biometric formalities on March 19, 2026, and submitted several documents, including his matriculation certificate proving his date and place of birth.

“Now the ball is in the Passport Seva Kendra’s court because the police have already said they sent in an adverse report,” Rajagopal tells Open, adding that he was asked a week ago to appear before the Regional Passport Office in Kolkata on July 17, the next available date, but has not been told which documents he should carry.

Rajagopal told Open that the address (on Dover Road, Ballygunge) on both his electoral roll entry and passport has remained unchanged since he was first issued a passport more than 20 years ago. “It was originally issued in 2005 and then renewed in 2015, both at the same address. In 2015, the same police station carried out the verification. Earlier, the police would come home, but this time they called me to the station. Even then, I did not suspect anything because I thought it was election season in West Bengal and the police must be busy. So I went to the police station, where they asked me to leave additional documents, including my matriculation certificate.”

He continues: “So I left everything there. After a while, they told me to go to the Security Control Organisation (SCO). If the local police station has doubts about a verification, this is the escalation point. So I went there on May 20.”

According to the Kolkata Police website, “The SCO looks after registration work related to foreigners other than Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Nepalese nationals, and performs such functions as extension of residential permit, granting of multi-entry visa, no objection to return to India, visa conversion, granting of restricted and protected area permits, issuance of PIO cards to foreigners of Indian origin and their spouses, issuance of police clearance certificates to Indians who are residents under Kolkata Police jurisdiction, processing of Overseas Citizenship of India applications, etc.”

It adds that, as the civil authority and Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Kolkata, the Deputy Commissioner, SCO, passes deportation orders for foreigners, liaises with foreign missions, issues shore passes for international marine crew signing on and off ships at Kolkata River Port Immigration, and grants dock entry permits. “The SCO does the work of international passport enquiry on applications received from the Regional Passport Office, Kolkata. The passport enquiries are made in respect of applicants residing within Kolkata Police jurisdiction,” it states​.​ "Immigration forms the vital factor of manifold functions of SCO​," the Kolkata police website notes.

Earlier, in early April, the police had called Rajagopal to the police station and told him that had his name been on the electoral roll, they would have been able to generate an OTP and complete the verification process with ease.

“At the SCO, they asked me to write my name on a sheet of paper,” Rajagopal recalls. “That chit was taken inside. Then another gentleman came out with it and openly said in Bangla, in front of many people, ‘It won't happen.’ So, I asked why not. He told me, ‘Because your name has been deleted from the voters’ list. Until it is restored, we won't be able to give you a verification.’” The senior journalist and political commentator says he then asked where it was stated that a person whose name is not on the electoral roll could not be granted police verification. “The man replied that he could not discuss such things.”

News of Rajagopal’s ordeal has since gone viral. Several journalists, intellectuals and politicians, including Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan, have highlighted his case. Satheesan has also written to his West Bengal counterpart Suvendu Adhikari, seeking urgent intervention in Rajagopal’s passport renewal case.

​Meanwhile, speaking to Open, Dhrubajyoti De, Additional Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, said the police have taken note of Rajagopal's case. According to De, Rajagopal's passport renewal application was held up because certain documents were missing. He added that being listed on the electoral roll is not a prerequisite for passport renewal and assured that the matter would be looked into soon. However, De declined to comment on the role of the SCO, saying it was "difficult" to ​immediately discuss both the organisation's original purpose and its present-day functions.