The Karnataka High Court on Monday rebuked the West Bengal government for delaying proceedings in the case of a school bus driver detained in Bengaluru last year on suspicion of being an undocumented Bangladeshi immigrant. Justice Suraj Govindaraj directed all parties to submit their final documents ahead of a July 23 hearing, stating that no further adjournments would be granted.
The court’s decision came after the West Bengal government requested an additional two weeks to allow newly appointed state authorities to review the driver’s citizenship files. Representing the state, Advocate Mahendra Gowda C R explained that the review did not imply the state would submit a contradictory report. Justice Govindaraj rejected the request, noting that the ongoing delays were wasting the court’s time.
Prior State Clearances and Voter Verification
The petitioner, 32-year-old Rafikul Biswas of Nadia district in West Bengal, has maintained that he is an Indian citizen by birth. His counsel, Advocate Clifton D Rozario, pointed out that two West Bengal agencies—the Superintendent of Police for Krishnagar Police District and the local Block Development Officer—had already investigated the matter in October 2025 and officially declared Biswas an Indian citizen. These reports are already on the court record.
Furthermore, Rozario informed the court that Biswas and his family recently cleared the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision process and received new voter identity cards. Deputy Solicitor General Shanthi Bhushan, appearing for the Foreigners Regional Registration Office, submitted that the successful completion of the intensive voter revision process effectively resolves the citizenship dispute.
Detention and Health Concerns
Biswas, who worked as a school bus driver and scrap dealer, was detained by Bengaluru police in September last year. Authorities had presented a birth certificate and an identity document with his photograph, claiming he was a Bangladeshi national.
Shortly after his detention, Biswas suffered a heart attack and required hospitalization. He was released from detention on medical grounds on December 19 following a second cardiac episode. Biswas originally petitioned the High Court in September last year to quash the detention order issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office and secure his immediate release.
