I just wanted to vent out my anger against the Passport Office in Kolkata. I had applied for my passport many years ago in Kolkata. A Police constable came to my house asking me to see the Police officer at my local police station (Bally) at my convenience. I went there after my work in Kolkata in the evening. The Police officer wanted to know the reason for my application and the type of profession I am in. At the end of the conversation, he expressed his need for money that only I may be able to satisfy. I had a Rs 10 note in my pocket, which I gave him so he can take care of his expenses. I got my passport on time and for 9 years I had no problem, until I applied for police verification certificate from the Passport office in Kolkata.
At this time, I was told that my police verification was not complete the first time and I must apply for a renewed police verification, if I want one. Normal Police verification used to take about 2-3 months. But I needed the certificate within 5 working days, so I can fulfill my other requirements. Not knowing what to do, I went to the Passport office next morning with my wife and three year old daughter to meet the officer to see whether the problem can be resolved. I was offered an interview with the officer and I literally was on my hands and knees to beg the officer to release a police verification certificate.
She was softened with my approach and asked me to get an affidavit from the Bankshal court that I had never committed any crime of any sort. Upon receiving that certificate, passport office realized that Consulate General Office in New York had previously issued a police verification certificate on my behalf and based on that they will issue a police verification certificate for me.
To this day, I believe that my first police verification was complete and in my second encounter, employees at the Kolkata Passport Office failed to approach me with their financial needs. The result of which disgusted me with official government business.
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