Hyderabad: Officials forge income certificates for bribe
Kumar said that he was denied an inspection of the files and the Public Information Officer stated that the file was lost.
Hyderabad: The Bahadurpura mandal office issued two different income certificates to the same person within a span of 21 days. Bahadurpura naib tahsildar Syed Abdul Irshad issued an income certificate to Syeda Hajera of Kalapathar on December 22, 2018, stating that the annual income of the family was Rs 2.40 lakh. The same office issued another income certificate on January 8, 2019, in favor of the same applicant certifying the income of the family as Rs 1.6 lakh.
A social activist of Rikab Gunj, Mr Akshay Kumar, sought detailed information about the income certificate issued by the naib tahsildar to the applicant under the RTI Act. He was denied information on the ground that it pertained to a third party and on seeking her consent, she had objected to releasing her details.
Mr Kumar filed a first appeal under the RTI Act with the revenue divisional officer, Nampally, which issued instructions to the naib tahsildar to furnish the details except for personal information of the applicant. Mr Kumar was later asked to collect the documents by the Bahadurpura MRO.
Mr Kumar said that he was denied an inspection of the files and the Public Information Officer stated that the file was lost. He said that copies of documents which were provided were received from the applicant Syeda Hajera. Mr Kumar pointed out that no complaint was lodged before police on loss or missing of documents.
On verification of documents provided it was revealed that Ms Hajera had applied for the income certificate twice on the same date, January 5, 2019, but had got two certificates, one of which predated her application. Mr Kumar asked how a certificate was issued before the petition date. Mr Kumar said it clearly showed that officials in the revenue department were issuing income certificates by taking bribes. Based on these certificates, people were securing benefits under various monetary aid schemes meant for the poor. He alleged that Ms Hajera holds an MBA degree and her father works in the United Arab Emirates. Her marriage was solemnised in a big function hall which showed that it was a lavish affair.
He said that there are chances that based on the income certificate above, the applicant secured monetary aid under the Shadi Mubarak scheme. He complained to the Secretary, Finance, and demanded cancellation of the income certificate which shows a lower income, action under sections 199 and 200 of the IPC and starting of the recovery process.