In an unusual turn of events in Bihar, an application for a residential certificate in the name of ‘Cat Kumar,’ claiming ‘Catty Boss’ as the father, has sparked a police investigation in Rohtas district.
This peculiar incident follows a string of similar fraudulent applications, raising concerns about the misuse of the state’s online public service system as electoral roll revisions intensify.
Investigation Launched Over Fake Application
Rohtas District Magistrate Udita Singh acted swiftly upon discovering the application, directing Revenue Officer Kaushal Patel to file a case against unknown individuals at Nasriganj police station.
“The investigation is underway,” authorities confirmed, with charges related to obstruction of government work to be formalized once suspects are apprehended.
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The application listed ‘Cat Kumar’ as the applicant, with ‘Catty Boss’ and ‘Catiya Devi’ as the parents, marking it as a clear attempt to exploit the system.
This incident is not isolated. Just weeks prior, two other fraudulent applications surfaced in Bihar: one for ‘Dog Babu’ in Patna and another for ‘Sonalika Tractor’ in East Champaran.
These cases led to departmental action against two officials responsible for overseeing the verification process, highlighting vulnerabilities in the system.
Link to Electoral Roll Revisions
The surge in questionable applications coincides with Bihar’s ongoing electoral roll revision, a process tied to the Bihar Right To Public Service Act, which allows residents to apply for certificates online.
These certificates, including residential ones, are among the 11 documents recognized by the Election Commission for voter registration.
Experts suggest that the timing of these fake submissions may be linked to efforts to manipulate voter lists, prompting heightened scrutiny of the application process.
Under the state’s public service framework, each application undergoes verification before a certificate is issued. However, the recent spate of fictitious filings has exposed gaps in the system, leading authorities to tighten oversight and pursue legal action against those responsible.
