TNI Bureau: The delay in passport renewal for veteran journalist and former editor of ‘The Telegraph’, R Rajagopal has escalated into a political row, with Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan sought West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s intervention in the passport renewal application.

In a letter to CM Suvendu Adhikari, V D Satheesan said: “I understand that the adverse report is based on the deletion of his name from the electoral roll under the Special Intensive Revision. While the electoral issue is being dealt with through the appropriate appeal process, I am informed that the police report has had the effect of delaying the renewal of his passport.”

Rajagopal, a Kolkata resident for three decades, alleged his passport renewal (File No. CA2076571543326) was put on hold after an adverse police verification report. The report cited the deletion of his name from West Bengal’s electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Ballygunge constituency.

Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan also called the delay “shocking”. He said Rajagopal was among nearly 27 lakh people whose names were deleted during the SIR. Vijayan added that Rajagopal’s appointment at the Regional Passport Office was scheduled for July 17, by which time he had already missed his daughter’s wedding in California.