Rohtas: Authorities in Bihar have launched an investigation after an application for a residential certificate was filed in the name of a cat. The request, submitted in Rohtas district, listed the applicant as “Cat Kumar”, with “Catty Boss” recorded as the father and “Catiya Devi” as the mother.
District magistrate Udita Singh ordered revenue officer Kaushal Patel to register a case against unknown persons at Nasriganj police station after the discovery. The application is now the subject of a police inquiry.
The incident comes just weeks after two similar hoax submissions: one in Patna from an applicant named “Dog Babu” and another in East Champaran from “Sonalika Tractor”. Both prompted official investigations and led to disciplinary action against two officials involved in processing the requests.
Police say the latest case will carry charges of obstructing government work, with additional offences to be determined once arrests are made.
Under the Bihar Right to Public Service Act, residents can apply online for official documents, which are then verified by designated officers before being issued. But experts note a surge in residential certificate requests since the state began revising its electoral roll, as the document is among the 11 forms of identification accepted by the Election Commission.
