Is Sohini Adhikary a Bangladesh citizen? Bitan Adhikary's mourning wife finds herself in controversy, politics

Just three days after losing her husband in the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Bitan Adhikary's wife Sohini Adhikary has found herself at the centre of a controversy, with politics quickly becoming entangled in the matter. Her brother-in-law has accused her of being a Bangladeshi national who allegedly entered India using forged documents.

Sohini returned to Kolkata on Wednesday with Bitan’s mortal remains and their three-year-old son. Following their arrival, Bitan’s elder brother, Bibhu Adhikari, a practising lawyer, claimed that Sohini and her mother, Bharati Roy, had fraud cases filed against them two years ago that are still under trial. He further alleged that Bharati has since fled to Bangladesh.

Speaking to the local media, Bibhu said, “Sohini has two different birth certificates. She is originally from Bangladesh. Later, she obtained Indian voter ID, Aadhaar card, and other identification documents, which were later found to be fraudulent.”

He also stated that Sohini had left the United States and returned to India in January 2023 as her Indian passport expired. According to him, her application for continued stay in India, filed in February 2023, was rejected, and the matter is currently pending before a division bench of the Calcutta High Court.

While Bitan’s parents reside in Kolkata’s Patuli area, Bitan and Sohini had been living separately in another house since 2023, where she now stays with their son. Bitan’s family alleges that Sohini is the "illegal owner" of this second property, claiming that it was purchased by her mother using forged documents and later gifted to Sohini.

Adding to the controversy is a crowdfunding campaign set up in Bitan’s name, with Sohini listed as the beneficiary. The campaign, hosted on GoFundMe, features a picture of Bitan and mentions that it was initiated by his friends in Tampa, Florida, after talks with Sohini. The fundraiser has further fuelled public skepticism regarding Sohini’s intentions.

Sohini has yet to issue any public statement in response to the allegations. However, her brother has categorically denied all accusations against her and their family.

Meanwhile, the situation has taken a political turn. At Kolkata airport on Wednesday, an emotional Sohini was seen telling West Bengal Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, that her late husband was a BJP supporter and that she had come to him seeking justice.

The following day, Adhikari, accompanied by BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul, visited Sohini’s Patuli residence and spoke with her for over three minutes. Adhikari later stated that while the details of their conversation would remain confidential, they are firmly standing by Sohini’s side.

Bibhu Adhikary believes that Sohini is seeking assistance from the Leader of Opposition to help secure Indian citizenship for herself. 

India