6 days ago
Shanta Paul case: Kolkata police arrest man for helping Bangladeshi actress with fake documents
The Kolkata police have made another arrest in connection with the ongoing investigation into Bangladeshi model and actress Shanta Paul, who was recently arrested for allegedly possessing forged Indian identity documents.
The accused, identified as Soumik Dutta, 36, from Naihati in North 24 Parganas district, was arrested on Tuesday by the Anti-Rowdy Squad from his residence for his alleged role in helping Paul create the fake documents.
Paul, 28, was arrested by the Lalbazar Detective Department after being found with two fake Aadhaar cards and a ration card. The police are now checking if she used these forged documents to secure a bank loan. According to sources, the police are looking into her financial transactions, particularly in light of her social media posts where she had mentioned plans to open an eatery.
Paul, who has nearly 41,000 followers on Facebook, is a model and actress. The investigation has also extended to her social media presence, where officials are examining her travel vlogs that allegedly contain advice to other Bangladeshi nationals on how to enter and reside in India using medical visas. The police are investigating whether Paul influenced or assisted others in similar fraudulent activities.
The investigation has also revealed that Paul used a rented Kolkata address to obtain a ration card, which was then used to create the fake Aadhaar cards. One of the fraudulent Aadhaar cards listed an address in Purba Bardhaman district, while the other had a Kolkata address.
According to sources, investigators suspect that creating a false Indian identity was part of a broader plan to facilitate international travel, as she was reportedly unable to travel to certain countries from Bangladesh.
Details have also emerged about Paul's travel history, including a visit to Nathula Pass near the China border in Sikkim. The police are also checking her social media page, 'Asan Travels Kolkata and Bangladesh', to determine the scope of her alleged travel business.
Paul is still in police custody as officials verify the seized documents and uncover the full extent of her alleged crimes.
Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics.
With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences.
Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
