Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has vowed to take strict action against officials involved in allegedly extorting money from citizens in exchange for the speedy issuance of birth certificates.
Recent reports have revealed a growing racket in the KMC birth certificate wing, where officials, allegedly in collusion with touts, are charging citizens exorbitant fees for Tatkal slots. Premiums reportedly range from Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000. The scam came to light when a citizen close to KMC Chairperson Mala Roy was offered a Tatkal slot for Rs 30,000. Upon informing Roy, the matter gained immediate attention.
TMC touts are charging Rs 30000 for a birth certificate.
Basically, a Bangladeshi illegal migrant can buy citizenship for Rs 30k. pic.twitter.com/ZknAyizyVD
— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) February 3, 2026
A KMC source revealed that a clerk from the birth certificate wing was behind the malpractice. In another incident, a senior KMC official discovered that a messenger had demanded Rs 10,000 to expedite a birth certificate for a relative after a two-month delay. Intervention by senior KMC health department officials eventually resolved the case.
Sources in the KMC health department acknowledged that the racket exploits situations requiring urgent documents, such as SIR camps and police verification for passports. Complaints have been pouring into civic headquarters about harassment and extortion in the name of document submission. One retired teacher from Dhakuria reported being asked to wait a month for her son’s birth certificate or pay ₹20,000 to obtain it sooner, despite submitting all required documents.
Addressing the issue, KMC Chairperson Mala Roy said, “It cannot be tolerated that a section of the birth certificate wing harasses citizens to earn easy money while the civic administration remains silent. This matter is serious and requires immediate intervention.”
Deputy Mayor Atin Ghosh, who oversees the KMC health department, reiterated that no one will be spared if found guilty of extorting money. “Citizens should use the official chatbot to apply for birth certificates. Any issuance outside the proper process must be investigated, and those involved must be held accountable immediately,” he stated.
The KMC has urged citizens to report any such malpractice and emphasized that measures are being taken to ensure transparency and eliminate harassment in the issuance of vital documents.
