The Delhi Police, in an affidavit to the High Court on Friday, admitted that “fake and bogus police verification reports” were filed for issuance of five passports by an officer of the Delhi Police Special Branch. Police told the court of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw that they have suspended the ASI concerned and have issued a showcause notice to his superior officer for “gross negligence in discharge of assigned official duties”. The affidavit by Deputy Commissioner (Special Branch) Ram Kumar Verma was submitted in a PIL filed by NGO Paardarshita Foundation, which alleged that “illegal” passports were being issued to citizens and foreigners on non-existent addresses. [related-post] The NGO had brought to the notice of the court three “fake” passports and also requested re-verification of two other passports. The five cases mentioned in the plea were then found to be “fake”. In its affidavit, the Delhi Police said when the Regional Passport Office (RPO) sent the passports by post to purported residents of Humayunpur village, all five had returned undelivered. The RPO had sought an inquiry after this. On inquiry, it was found that Assistant Sub Inspector Dashrath Singh of the Special Branch had not verified the addresses of the applicants. Instead, he had met them at a cinema in the area and had collected residence and ID proofs from them. Police also admitted that a vigilance inquiry had revealed that the ASI had submitted “fake and bogus police verification reports” and had “deliberately flouted the instructions laid down for police verification”. Police have also initiated proceedings against South Zone Special Branch Inspector Shailendra Kumar for “failure to supervise his staff”.
