Kolkata Police Arrest Bangladeshi Model for Using Fake Indian Identity Papers

Bangladeshi Model Arrested in Kolkata with Multiple Fake Indian IDs.

Kolkata Police have arrested a 28-year-old Bangladeshi woman, identified as Shanta Pal, for illegally residing in India and possessing multiple forged Indian identity documents. She was apprehended from her rented apartment in the Jadavpur area by the Anti-Rowdy Squad following a specific tip-off.

Originally from Barisal, Bangladesh, Shanta Pal is a former model and television anchor who reportedly participated in several beauty contests and hosted shows on Bangladeshi channels.

During a search of her residence, police seized:

Two Aadhaar cards with different addresses (Kolkata and Burdwan)

• An Indian voter ID card
• A ration card
• Multiple Bangladeshi passports issued in her name
• An employee ID card from Regent Airways (Bangladesh)

A school admit card from Dhaka

Police officials said Pal had rented the apartment in late 2024 along with a male companion. She failed to produce a valid visa during questioning and was unable to offer satisfactory explanations for her possession of Indian documents.

“She is currently in police custody. The investigation is underway,” said Joint Commissioner (Crime) Rupesh Kumar.

Pal was produced before a city court on Wednesday and has been remanded to police custody until August 8.

Kolkata Police are now working with the UIDAI, Election Commission, and West Bengal Food Department to determine how she obtained the Aadhaar, voter, and ration cards.

Authorities are also probing potential gaps in verification processes that may have enabled the issuance of official documents to a foreign national.