Akanksha Vidyarthi, a 28‑year‑old from Delhi, slipped into the Bengal Secretariat at Nabanna in Kolkata on Wednesday, pretending to be a Prime Minister’s Office official. Police were alerted by a State Public Works Department (PWD) officer after she asked probing questions about the department’s functioning. The Howrah City Police team moved to Delhi that same night to question her.
The Howrah City Police received the tip early Wednesday evening and immediately reached out to their counterparts in Delhi Police. They flew to the capital on Wednesday night and detained Vidyarthi at a local police station. The woman had returned to Delhi after her brief encounter at Nabanna.
Investigators are interrogating Vidyarthi to determine her motive. “We are not taking this lightly; we suspect an organized gang may be involved,” said a senior officer of Howrah City Police. He added that the team is reviewing CCTV footage and interviewing witnesses from PWD.
The PWD filed a written complaint with Howrah City Police after the woman’s false identity was confirmed. The complaint cited her unauthorized entry and the request for a prior appointment as breaches of protocol.
A PWD official said the woman quickly left the premises after raising concerns.
Delhi Police will continue to hold Vidyarthi in custody pending further investigation. The Howrah City Police will present preliminary findings to the West Bengal Home Minister by the end of next week, with a possible court hearing scheduled for early next month.