In a bizarre case that has sparked embarrassment for the Bihar administration, a domicile certificate issued to a dog named “Dog Babu” has led to a First Information Report (FIR) being filed in Patna. Authorities confirmed that the document—complete with names of fictional parents “Kutta Babu” and “Kutiya Devi”—was issued through the state’s official RTPS portal on July 24.
Patna District Magistrate Thiyagarajan S.M. said an FIR has been lodged against the applicant, the computer operator, and the revenue officer involved in processing the application. The certificate, issued at 3:56 p.m., was reportedly cancelled just two minutes later at 3:58 p.m., but not before screenshots went viral online.
"The Masaurhi sub-divisional officer has been directed to conduct a full investigation and submit a report within 24 hours," said Thiyagarajan. "Departmental and disciplinary action will be taken against those responsible."
The certificate listed an address in Mohalla Kaulichak, Ward No. 15, Nagar Parishad Masaurhi. Revenue officer Murari Chauhan had digitally signed the document, raising serious concerns about misuse of official credentials.
Preliminary inquiries revealed that the documents uploaded with the application belonged to a woman from Delhi, suggesting a deliberate case of system manipulation. “This is not a joke but a serious instance of tampering with government records,” said Masaurhi Circle Officer Prabhat Ranjan. "We are investigating how the revenue officer’s digital signature (dongle) was misused, and strict action will follow."
The incident has not only embarrassed the state machinery but also cast doubt on the security of the Bihar Right to Public Service (RTPS) platform. This platform allows residents to apply for certificates online, including domicile certificates, which are used for critical documentation such as inclusion in electoral rolls.
Notably, this isn’t the first time such an anomaly has occurred in Bihar—a residence certificate was previously issued to a Sonalika tractor in Munger district.
Political commentator and Swaraj India member Yogendra Yadav mocked the episode, highlighting the irony that this same certificate is used for inclusion in voter rolls during the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive.
Authorities have now roped in the cyber police to trace the origin of the application and identify all parties involved. "Suspension proceedings are underway for those responsible, and we’re working closely with cybercrime units to track the digital trail behind the application," Thiyagarajan added.