In the wake of the tragic Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, including that of Bitan Adhikari, a resident of Kolkata’s Patuli, a personal and political storm erupted over the citizenship status of his wife, Sohini Adhikari.
The controversy, which stirred emotional and legal turmoil within the grieving family, has now taken a decisive turn, with the Government of India granting Sohini Indian citizenship.
Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar made the announcement confirming that Sohini’s long-pending application for Indian citizenship through marriage had finally been approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Expressing gratitude, Majumdar thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for resolving the matter swiftly, calling it a humanitarian gesture during a time of personal tragedy.
Bitan, an IT professional based in the United States, had returned to Kolkata on holiday with his wife and children when he decided to travel to Jammu and Kashmir.
During this visit, he tragically lost his life in the 22 April terror attack in Pahalgam, which has since drawn nationwide condemnation. The incident, however, soon became entangled in a family dispute over Sohini’s origins and legal status in India.
Sohini had returned from the US in 2023 after her passport was revoked by the Regional Passport Office (RPO), Kolkata.
Following Bitan’s death, his elder brother, Bibhu Adhikari, raised serious allegations regarding Sohini’s identity and citizenship. Bibhu claimed that Sohini was originally a Bangladeshi citizen and had concealed her background prior to marrying Bitan.
He further alleged that she possessed two different birth certificates and had committed fraud to gain legal recognition in India.
According to Bibhu, a criminal case against Sohini and her mother, Bharati Roy, is still pending in court on charges of deception and fraud. “She hid her identity before marrying my brother.
She cannot be the legal heir to any government compensation offered after his death,” Bibhu stated, asserting that her background invalidated any claim she might make as Bitan’s widow.
Despite the accusations, Sohini had reportedly applied for Indian citizenship through the formal process of marriage registration long before Bitan's death.
Under Indian law, a foreign national married to an Indian citizen is eligible to apply for naturalisation after residing in the country for a specified period. Her application, which had been under review for several months, has now received clearance from the central government.
This development comes in light of increased scrutiny over cross-border identities and national security in the region.
While Sohini’s exact country of origin was not officially mentioned in the government’s statement, earlier reports and family claims suggested Bangladeshi roots, making her case politically sensitive and emotionally charged.
Though the citizenship issue has been formally resolved, questions surrounding Sohini’s alleged legal troubles remain. If found guilty in the ongoing fraud case, legal experts say it could impact her standing in civil matters, including inheritance or compensation claims.
For now, however, her status as an Indian citizen provides a level of protection and recognition amid a deeply polarised family situation.
The Pahalgam attack has already sparked concerns over security lapses, and now the unfolding story of Bitan’s widow has added a new dimension to the national conversation — one that intersects grief, identity, citizenship and law.
As India grapples with rising cross-border tensions and internal security challenges, cases such as Sohini’s reflect the complex human stories caught in the crossfire of politics, policy and personal pain.
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