Not every visitor to a state secretariat raises eyebrows. On Wednesday afternoon, a woman introduced as a senior official from the Prime Minister’s Office reached Nabanna, the West Bengal government’s seat of administration, with an appointment in hand. By the time she left, doubts had begun to form. Who was she really?
Who Is Dr Akangsha Vidyarthi?
Police have identified her as Dr Akangsha Vidyarthi, a woman in her 30s. Her name is spelt Akanksha in some reports. She is based in central Delhi. According to reports, she had also emailed the Public Works Department earlier, claiming links with Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh.
Face to Face With the Minister
She secured a meeting with PWD Minister Ajay Poddar, who is also a doctor by profession. Reports say she asked officials about how the department functions. During the conversation, the minister grew suspicious of her inconsistent statements and began questioning her credentials. Realising her cover was slipping, she reportedly left the premises quickly. How she got past the heavy security at the entrance remains unclear.
Complaint and a Flight to Delhi
The minister’s staff informed the police, and the department filed a written complaint with Howrah City Police. By then, officers found she had boarded a flight to Delhi. Shibpur police registered a case under charges including impersonating a public servant, cheating by personation and presenting forged documents.
Arrest in the Capital
A team led by a woman officer travelled to Delhi overnight and took her into custody from her central Delhi home on Thursday. She was then to be produced before a local court. Howrah City Police officers questioned her, as investigators work to learn her motive.
What Happens Next
Several questions are still open. Did she have local accomplices? Is she part of an organised gang, as police suspect? Were the credentials she used genuine or forged? Did she attempt the same trick elsewhere? Officials are verifying her documents, and Nabanna’s security lapse will almost certainly come under review.
The allegations are yet to be tested in court. For now, a visitor who claimed to speak for the country’s highest office has become the subject of a police probe, and the answer to why she wanted to be inside Nabanna may reshape the case.
Khushi Patel is a Senior Sub Editor at NewsX, covering automotive, technology, Lifestyle, entertainment, and mainstream news. She previously worked as a Copy Editor at Times Network and has written automotive editorial content, including comparison pieces, for TimesDrive.
