Surat Passport Office Refutes Allegations, Upholds Transparency in Special Passport Mela

Surat, Gujarat – In a strongly worded response to recent media reports, the Regional Passport Office (RPO), Surat, has refuted allegations of favoritism and mismanagement during the Special Passport Mela held at the Udhna Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) on August 2. The event, organized to accommodate Haj pilgrims and urgent passport seekers, saw 900 appointment slots—including 600 Tatkaal cases—opened to the public as part of a structured initiative to streamline document processing and reduce backlogs.

Responding to media claims surrounding the experience of one Hetal Kapadia, the Surat passport office in a media note stated that “We categorically state that there was no procedural wrongdoing,” said a senior RPO official. “All officers reported on time, appointments were honored, and incomplete applications were handled as per standard operating procedures—not rejected, but placed on hold.”

Kapadia’s allegations, widely circulated across social media and some local outlets, suggest that he was denied service despite urgency. However, the passport office clarified that Kapadia held a normal appointment scheduled for September 9, not August 2, and had no direct interaction with any senior official during the mela.

“Claims of favoritism and corruption are entirely speculative,” said RPO Chief Yogesh Patel, who has come under scrutiny. “Public allegations must be based on verifiable facts, not conjecture. Irresponsible reporting harms both public trust and the morale of those working in good faith.”

 The RPO has also encouraged citizens to utilize formal grievance redressal mechanisms rather than turning to unverified public speculation.

The RPO reaffirmed its openness to constructive feedback and called on stakeholders, including media professionals, to uphold integrity, fairness, and factual accuracy in all public discourse.