The Bihar government faces scrutiny following a series of peculiar incidents involving residence certificates. In the latest instance, a fraudulent application for a residence certificate was submitted in the name of ‘Sonalika Tractor,’ a renowned tractor company, in the Kotwa block of Motihari district. This incident follows a previous case where a certificate was issued in the name of a dog.
The application was filled with false information, including the father’s name listed as ‘Swaraj Tractor’ and the mother’s name as ‘Kar Devi.’ Shockingly, the application also included a photograph of Bhojpuri actress Monalisa. The application also contained details such as the police station, Chhauradano, the Motihari Sadar sub-division, and a partially revealed mobile number, indicating an attempt to deceive the authorities.
Upon discovery of the fraudulent application, the Motihari Superintendent of Police, Swarn Prabhat, ordered the Kotwa police station to file an FIR and arrest those responsible. Investigations are also underway to identify the cyber cafe from which the application originated, with potential action against the cafe being considered.
Under standard administrative procedure, officials are expected to conduct on-site inspections of addresses provided in residence certificate applications before issuing the documents. The fact that this fraud was detected before a certificate was issued highlights the importance of vigilance. However, the incident raises serious questions about the effectiveness of online monitoring systems and whether negligent officials will face consequences.