Bihar News: Action Taken in Patna Fake Certificate Case; Verification to Be Tightened with AI Support

The Patna district administration has suspended a revenue officer and relieved an IT assistant for their roles in issuing a fake residential certificate. An inquiry revealed misuse of identity and improper verification processes. The government is enhancing verification measures to prevent future incidents.

Taking swift and stern action in connection with the issuance of a fake residential certificate in the name of "Dog Babu", the Patna district administration on Monday recommended the suspension of Masaurhi revenue officer while relieving IT Assistant from the service for dereliction of duty.

After finding both of them guilty of putting wrong digital signature on the fake residential certificates following an inquiry into the matter, Patna District Magistrate Thiyagarajan SM recommended to the Revenue and Land Reforms Department for suspension of Masaurhi Revenue Officer Murari Chouhan besides relieving an IT Assistant of Masaurhi circle for forwarding the application without any verification. Following the news relating to issuance of a fake residential certificate in the name of "Dog Babu" surfaced in the media, the government asked the Patna DM to inquire into the incident and take stern action against the erring official and staff after identifying them.

In the report submitted by the DM, it said that an online application was submitted for getting residential certificate annexing aadhaar of a woman hailing from Delhi. The inquiry report also found that the applicant misused someone else’s identity (aadhaar and Voter ID) illegally. An FIR (608/25) has been lodged against the Revenue Officer, IT Manager and unknown applicant with Masaurhi police station under various sections of 316(2)/336(3)/338/340(2).

Police have started investigation against the applicant who made self declaration and also misused someone else’s identity for availing the fake residential certificate against the rules. Stern action will be taken against those who resort to such illegal tactics for availing certificate. The said residential certificate, which has been mired in controversy, has been cancelled.

Bihar Prashashnik Sudhar Mission Society has issued a directive to all the District Magistrates to strictly enforce the "verification process" available on NIC’s Service Plus platform. The Society will soon use the AI (Artificial Intelligence) for further strengthening the system so that software can not be tampered with in any manner.