Pune Passport Office Orders Fresh Police Verification of ‘Suspcious Addresses’ After Nilesh Ghaywal Case
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 10th February 2026: In the wake of criticism over how notorious gangster Nilesh Ghaywal managed to obtain a passport before fleeing abroad, the Pune Regional Passport Office has announced stricter verification measures for applicants with suspicious addresses.
Regional Passport Officer Dr Vinod Gaikwad said police have been instructed to conduct fresh and thorough verification in cases where the address appears doubtful or where earlier reports mention that no one resides at the given location. “After the Nilesh Ghaywal case, we are rechecking such addresses once again. Anyone found submitting fake documents, false addresses or incorrect information will face criminal action,” he said.
Dr Gaikwad was speaking at the inauguration of a four-day special passport camp organised by the Pune Union of Working Journalists (PUWJ) for its members and their families. The camp is aimed at facilitating new passport applications and renewals for journalists and their relatives within a streamlined process.
The event was attended by Deputy Passport Officer Srishti Pandey, PUWJ President Brijmohan Patil, General Secretary Mangesh Falle, Treasurer Dilip Tayde, Ashish Deshmukh, Dattatraya Adhagale, and Passport Office PRO Jatin Pote.
During an interaction session, Dr Gaikwad shared his experiences as an ambassador in Russia, Kuwait and France, spoke about changing government policies, and discussed the image of Indians abroad. Journalists also raised various issues during the question-and-answer session.
Looking ahead, Dr Gaikwad said the use of e-passports will increase significantly in the coming years. “By 2035, all passports are expected to be converted into e-passports. This change will soon be visible on the ground,” he added.
