A woman who allegedly entered West Bengal's state secretariat Nabanna by posing as an official of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) was arrested in Delhi after Howrah City Police launched an investigation into her visit, officials said.
The woman, identified as Akanksha Vidyarthi, had visited the State Public Works Department (PWD), housed at Nabanna in Mandirtala, Kolkata, on Wednesday after securing a prior appointment. She allegedly introduced herself as a PMO official and questioned PWD officials about the department's functioning.
Her identity came under scrutiny during the interaction, prompting officials to verify her credentials. After finding that she had allegedly provided a false identity, the PWD lodged a written complaint with Howrah City Police.
By the time the complaint was filed, Vidyarthi had reportedly left Nabanna and flown back to Delhi.
How police traced her to Delhi
Howrah City Police received information about Vidyarthi's location in Delhi on Wednesday evening. Investigators subsequently contacted their counterparts in Delhi Police and sent a special team to the national capital.
The team reached Delhi on Wednesday night and began efforts to locate and question her. Initial information from the West Bengal Police indicated that Vidyarthi was in Delhi Police custody and was being questioned by Howrah City Police investigators.
Subsequent reports said the Howrah team traced her to a flat in Delhi's Anand Parbat area and arrested her. She was produced before a Delhi court, which granted Howrah Police transit remand, following which she was brought back to West Bengal on Friday morning.
Officials became suspicious during meeting
Vidyarthi had reportedly sought an appointment before arriving at Nabanna and then met officials of the State PWD.
According to a police officer, she asked questions about the functioning of the department while claiming to represent the PMO. However, some PWD officials became suspicious about her identity during the interaction.
Sensing that the officials were questioning her credentials, she allegedly left the secretariat quickly.
Officials subsequently checked the identity she had provided and found that her claim of being a PMO official was false. The PWD then approached Howrah City Police with a written complaint, triggering the investigation.
Police probe motive and possible gang link
Investigators are now trying to establish why Vidyarthi allegedly entered Nabanna using a false PMO identity and what information she was seeking from the PWD.
Police are also examining whether she acted alone or was connected to an organised gang. A senior state police officer said investigators were treating the matter seriously and were looking into the possibility of a wider network being involved.
The probe is expected to examine how Vidyarthi obtained an appointment at Nabanna, what information she sought from government officials and whether anyone assisted her in presenting herself as a PMO representative.
Other details emerge during investigation
Later reports said Vidyarthi had allegedly represented herself as a senior PMO official and had sought to meet West Bengal Public Works Minister Ajay Kumar Poddar. Police are also examining a reported connection involving a businessman from Cooch Behar who had allegedly approached her over difficulties concerning the setting up of an English-medium school.
Reports further said Vidyarthi had shared photographs on social media with senior BJP leaders. These details are being examined as part of the investigation and do not by themselves establish any political or organisational connection to the alleged impersonation.
Police have registered a case involving allegations of cheating and impersonation, and investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding her access to the state secretariat.
The key questions before the investigators are why she used the PMO identity, what information she intended to obtain and whether other people were involved in the episode.