A Model, a Vlogger, and a False Identity: The Arrest of Shanta Pal
A model, a flight crew member, a vlogger—and now, at the center of a growing identity fraud case. Shanta Pal, a 28-year-old Bangladeshi national, has been arrested in Kolkata for allegedly posing as an Indian citizen using fake documents.
The arrest has caught public attention not just for the crime itself, but the mundanity with which it unfolded. Pal wasn’t living off the radar. She posted regularly on social media, rented homes in central and south Kolkata, and maintained a public food vlogging account. Her apparent confidence has left many wondering—how did nobody notice sooner?
Timeline of Events: From Vlogs to Vacant Lies
- Pal arrived in India a few months ago with a valid Bangladeshi passport.
- Initially lived in Park Street, then moved to Bikramgarh area in South Kolkata.
- Allegedly obtained fake Indian identity documents through a local agent.
- Used forged documents to run alleged business operations and plan foreign travel.
- Arrested earlier this week on charges of cheating and conspiracy.
According to Kolkata Police, she was found with two Aadhaar cards, one ration card, and one voter ID card — all suggesting she was a local Indian. One Aadhaar card traced her to East Burdwan while the other bore an address in Kolkata itself.
Official Statements from Police
Police officials investigating the case shared that Pal had intentions of traveling to foreign countries but allegedly used India as a loophole. A senior officer told PTI,
“She could not travel abroad from Bangladesh but wanted to go to other countries. So she came to India and posed as an Indian national to produce valid-looking documents.”
They also believe that Pal’s growing online presence through food vlogs and lifestyle posts was possibly calculated—part of a broader effort to build credible proof of her identity as an Indian.
Documents and The Alleged Business Plan
It appears Pal wasn’t just trying to blend in quietly. Records suggest she used the fabricated IDs to set up a car rental service in Kolkata—aligning herself with local businesses in a way that requires substantial identification and address proof.
This raises major questions. Are rental firms checking documentation closely enough? How many others could be slipping through the system this way?
The documents seized from Shanta Pal include:
- Two Aadhaar cards – one each for East Burdwan and Kolkata addresses
- One Ration card
- One Voter ID card
Her Social Media Persona
Pal had a relatively active presence on social platforms. Her food vlogging content was often light and cheerful—street food tastings, commentary on Indian cuisine, casual life updates. Nothing flashy. Nothing attention-seeking.
The last known upload went live on July 28 and carried no hint of any brewing controversy. Police believe her curated online persona was a deliberate move designed to show long-term consistency and social integration—a pattern useful for securing documentation or even dealing with future inquiries from investigators or agencies.
In her videos, she occasionally spoke fluent Bangla but also adopted local Indian slang, a decision some now believe was strategic rather than casual.
Online Clues and the Role of a Social Media Post
Somewhat ironically, her social media activity may have contributed to her undoing. One photo post reportedly from her account showed Shanta Pal exposing a man who, according to her, possessed both an Indian Aadhaar and Bangladeshi identity credentials.
This drew attention—and questions. Police are now trying to determine whether revealing others was also part of a “cover” to cement her place on Indian soil or merely an attempt to shift scrutiny elsewhere.
Community Reactions: Confusion and Skepticism
The Bikramgarh area where Pal last lived hasn’t quite recovered from the news. Most neighbors barely noticed her. She wasn’t loud or socially active with locals, according to a resident. “She kept to herself. Once or twice I saw her doing some video near the tea shop,” said Arup Dey, a neighbor.
Online, netizens have raised concerns about documentation loopholes being exploited too easily. Others are focused more on the broader issue—how easy it is to forge and distribute fake IDs with the right contact inside official systems.
What’s Next? Police Digging Into the Network
The Kolkata police are expanding their investigation, trying to untangle the chain of individuals who provided the documents. As of now, no other arrests have been made in the case, but several agencies have been roped in to verify the trail of information.
One officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted:
“There’s a strong chance she wasn’t acting alone. A racket is likely behind this. We’re now tracing links across Bengal and possibly in Bangladesh as well.”
Investigators are now combing through Pal’s phone records, bank transactions, social media messages, and contact logs. They confirmed that the ID documents submitted in some cases bore official-looking seals and QR codes. Whether these are fake or illegally obtained real IDs will shape what comes next.
Broader Implications: Gaps in Verification Systems
Shanta Pal’s case shines a light on an uncomfortable truth: systems can be gamed, perhaps with more ease than anyone would like to admit. How did multiple documents get issued to the same person with different details? Why weren’t verification protocols stricter?
As authorities comb through this story, it’s not only fraud they’re investigating, but the integrity of systems that are meant to keep such impersonation from happening in the first place.
For now, many wait to see what direction this story takes—and whether Shanta Pal’s Instagram feeds and vlogs were just the tip of a much deeper network.
One thing is clear. The real story wasn’t on her Facebook page—it was happening behind it.
