Passport officer who ‘harassed’ interfaith UP couple shifted

An officer at Lucknow passport office, who allegedly harassed an inter-faith couple by asking the woman to change her last name and the man to convert to Hinduism, was transferred on Thursday, officials said.

The ministry of external affairs (MEA) has sought a report on the couple’s harassment allegation. The Lucknow regional passport office (RPO) sent its report, based on preliminary findings, to MEA later in the evening.

Meanwhile, passport officials invited the couple, Tanvi Seth and Anas Siddique, to the office and handed over their passports to them.

“The couple have been handed over their passports. A show cause notice has been issued to the officer Vikas Mishra, who was accused of misbehaving with the couple. We have transferred him to Gorakhpur and initiated a probe into the matter,” regional passport officer Peeyush Verma said.

The accused officer has, however, refuted the allegations of misbehaviour. “Tanvi Seth presented her marriage certificate where her name was registered at Shazia Anas. I only asked her to endorse her name (after marriage) in the form. She got infuriated and started shouting. So, I asked her to approach senior officials,” Mishra said.

Tanvi and Anas had alleged on Wednesday that Mishra misbehaved with them when they went to the passport office for the mandatory personal interview to get the travel document.