After 'Dog Babu,' 'Cat Kumar' seeks residential certificate in Bihar
What's the story
Bihar is once again in the news for a bizarre certificate scandal. A residential certificate application has been submitted in the name of a cat, "Cat Kumar," with Catty Boss and Catiya Devi listed as its parents. The incident comes barely two weeks after the "Dog Babu" residence certificate scandal, where a dog's photo was used on an official document.
Investigation underway
Investigation ordered into absurdity
The "Cat Kumar" form contained valid contact information, such as a phone number and an email address, and it cleared the initial submission stage without being reported. After the incident, Rohtas District Magistrate Udita Singh ordered an investigation into how such a document was issued. Following the instructions of DM Singh, Nasriganj Revenue Officer Kaushal Patel has registered a case against unknown persons at Nasriganj police station, and an investigation has begun.
Twitter Post
Check out the certificate here
Rohtas, Bihar | An application has been made for obtaining a residential certificate in the name of a cat. The applicant's name is Cat Kumar, with Catty Boss as the father and Catiya Devi as the mother.
— ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2025
Following the instructions of Rohtas DM Udita Singh, Nasriganj Revenue… pic.twitter.com/wq599ihfLv
Previous scandal
'Dog Babu' incident
The "Dog Babu" incident surfaced last month in Masaurhi, near Patna. A residence certificate with a dog's photo and the names "Kutta Babu" and "Kuttiya Devi" for parents was found online. The document bore a valid digital signature of revenue officer Murari Chauhan, confirming its authenticity and exposing serious administrative lapses.
Political backlash
Opposition slams government
Opposition leaders have slammed the government for these incidents. Swaraj India's Yogendra Yadav pointed out the irony of such certificates being accepted while legitimate documents like Aadhaar and ration cards are scrutinized. The Congress party accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Election Commission of manipulating electoral processes, sarcastically suggesting "Dog Babu" could be a BJP candidate.
Disciplinary measures
Authorities took action in dog certificate case
In response to the "Dog Babu" incident, authorities canceled the certificate and filed an FIR against those involved. The sub-divisional officer of Masaurhi was ordered to conduct a thorough inquiry within 24 hours. Strict disciplinary action has been promised against those found responsible for these absurdities, including an incident where a residence certificate was issued to "Sonalika Kumari." In this case, the applicant's photo was replaced by an image of a Sonalika tractor.