In 2020, an anonymous letter carrying corruption allegations against Agra Municipal Corporation officers linked to the Smart City project rocked the city. The letter was addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. In 2024, an audio clip allegedly carrying the voice of a corporation officer asking for a Rs 2 lakh bribe went viral on social media. Earlier, in 2020, corruption worth Rs 2.82 crore came to light in the corporation’s garbage collection work, in which the agency that was allotted the work collected money from house owners but did not deposit it in the corporation’s account.
In 2023, there was an allegation that a corporation employee demanded a bribe of Rs 25,000 from a man for transferring ownership of a house in his name after the death of his mother. In 2025, the Mayor of the city levelled charges of financial irregularities against the corporation, alleging that a contract had been allotted to a firm without following the tender process. In 2022, an outsourced employee of the corporation was removed on corruption charges after it was found that he had acquired property worth crores in eight years of service while drawing a salary of just Rs 5,000 per month. The list of corruption cases is long; these are just a few examples from the Agra Municipal Corporation, Uttar Pradesh, also known as Agra Nagar Nigam. Despite several cases kicking up dust—and action being taken in some of them—corruption at Agra Nagar Nigam allegedly continues unabated.
The scale of corruption at the Agra Municipal Corporation can be judged from the fact that the moment someone enters the corporation’s campus on Mahatma Gandhi Road (M.G. Road), Agra, for any work, they are greeted by brokers who offer all kinds of proposals to get the job done in exchange for money. These brokers are either contractual or outsourced employees working in Agra Nagar Nigam. According to sources, there are two rooms—numbers 101 and 103—in the main building of the corporation that have acquired notoriety for alleged corrupt practices. Sources say all brokers, including some who work in their ‘personal’ capacity, sit in these rooms waiting for customers who approach the Nigam for various works. There are reports that even some retired employees of the corporation have now become brokers. They come to the Nigam office daily, sit in either room no. 101 or room no. 103 waiting for customers, and disappear whenever senior officials arrive for inspection. According to sources, there have been instances where brokers took money from clients but the promised work was never carried out.
“I hope you are not doing a sting on me, not recording me. I am scared of all these things. If you are going to America or London, you require a Non-Availability Birth Certificate (NABC). This certificate is required when you do not have your original birth certificate. I will get your NABC made in a week, or in one or two days, or even in one hour, from the Agra Municipal Corporation. Usually, the corporation takes a month to prepare an NABC, but I will get it done in no time in exchange for money. This NABC will work as a substitute for your birth certificate,” said Ram Chaubey, alias Rishabh Sharma, an outsourced employee of the Agra Nagar Nigam, to Tehelka’s undercover reporter.
“I agree that reissuing your parents’ death certificates is your genuine work, for which no bribe should have been taken. But if you do not pay a bribe, your work will take time. Besides, checking all the records for reissuing two death certificates is a painful task, so for this only I have taken money from you,” said Rishabh.
“I don’t believe in any caste or religion, but in this government set-up, things are bad for Muslims. If you go for a fresh birth certificate for yourself, then your file will go to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), who will call you and ask several questions. This, however, is not the case with Hindus going for fresh birth certificates; only a few questions are asked from them,” Rishabh told Tehelka’s reporter.
“I have started earning money through bribes for the last one year. Previously, I was only surviving on my Rs 5,000–6,000 salary. Now, through bribes, I am earning around Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 a month. I have lots of customers who come to me for work. Many people have my phone number,” Rishabh added.
“I will get your NABC made in 15 days. Usually, the corporation issues one NABC in a month, but I am taking a bribe from you for this purpose only—to speed up your work,” said Bobby, another outsourced employee of Agra Nagar Nigam, to Tehelka’s reporter.
“For death certificates, I need Rs 8,000 as a bribe because I have to give to others also in the Nigam. For NABC, I will get it done for Rs 5,000,” Bobby said.
“Go and meet any employee of the Agra Nagar Nigam—he will not do your work for less than what I am taking from you as a bribe. Out of this, only Rs 400–500 will go into my pocket. To reassure you, I must tell you that I got one NABC done three or four months ago,” said Shyam, another broker at the Agra Nagar Nigam, to Tehelka’s reporter.
In the public interest, Tehelka travelled to Agra to investigate corruption allegations levelled by people against employees of the Agra Municipal Corporation. Tehelka met an outsourced employee, Ram Chaubey, popularly known as Rishabh Sharma, in the Nigam. The meeting was held at a tea restaurant at Sanjay Place, Agra. Rishabh reissued two death certificates of the parents of Tehelka’s reporter, which was a genuine work for which no money is required. However, Rishabh took Rs 5,000 as a bribe from the reporter, saying that without a bribe the work would have taken lot of time. He also said that since he had made considerable effort to trace the parents’ records, he needed to be compensated.
What follows is an exchange between Tehelka’s reporter and Rishabh that lays bare how even a legitimate request for death ceritificates is quietly pushed into the grey zone. In the process, he describes how the system itself has made speed a paid privilege.
Reporter- Jo maine paise bheje they; teen hazar maine bhej diye, do hazar reh gaye they, total 5000 ka kharcha tha death certificate ke liye mummy, papa ka. To death certificates waise nahi miltey?
Rishabh- Matlab?
Reporter- Matlab normal tareeke se, bina kharcha kiye nahi banta?
Rishabh- Banta hai, par usmein time lagta hai.
Rishabh (continues)- Ban jaata hai lekin sare documents aapke pass ho, mein bataoon pehle jo chaltey they haath ke bane hue, matlab pen se bane hotey they, usmein saari detail hoti thi, mehnat nahi karni padti hai, register nahi kholne padte, usmein saaf likha hota hai kitne number ka kitna, is wale ward mein ye hai, turant nikal ke haal ki haal ho jata tha. Phir usmein ek mahina lagta hai. Ab jis ka koi entry nahi hai, usey khojne mein to mehnat lagti hai.
[What this exchange shows is simple: even when work can be done without a bribe, delay is used as pressure. It seems that files move faster only when money changes hands.]
After issuing the death certificates of the reporter’s parents for money, Rishabh then told Tehelka’s reporter how he could get his birth certificate made in Agra, which, according to him, is a difficult task. Rishabh explained the procedure for obtaining the birth certificate in detail and, for this too, demanded money as a bribe from the reporter.
Reporter- Accha ab batao mera birth certificate kaise banega?
Rishabh- Aapke birth certificate ki koi entry nahi hai.
Reporter- Dekh liya aapne?
Rishabh- Haan, maine bahut dekha, saare register chaan mare, ek mahine se tumhare mata ji-pitaji ke certificate ke baad maine tumhara hi kaam kiya hai
Reporter- Us waqt ho sakta hai entry na ki ho.
Rishabh- Mujhe ye hi lag raha hai, aur koi tareeka nahi. Agar hota to jarur mein aap ko batata.
Reporter- Ab kaise banega?
Risabh- Ab aapke mummy, papa ke praman patra ho gaye hain to ab aap sarkar ko ye dikha sakte ho ki haan mere mata, pita yahin par expire hue hain, aur ye hai unke dastavez, do mummy papa ke praman patra lag jayenge, do padosiyo ke gawaho mein aur phir aadhar card lagenge, jo aapse umer mein 20 saal bade hon.
Reporter- Padosi hone chahiye?
Rishabh- Haan, jab aap wahan paida hue to sab de denge.
Reporter- Do ke aadhar chaiye?
Rishabh- Haan, aur ek kisi buzurg mahila ka aadhar jo ye keh sake ki haan maine is bacche ka ghar mein prasav karaya.
Reporter- Matlab dai hai?
Rishabh- Dai nahi bhi ho, koi mahila bhi ho, chalegi.
Reporter- Wo kaise keh degi maine prasav karaya iska?
Rishabh- Wo nahi kehegi, uska aadhar chahiye aur ek affidavit banega.
Reporter- Affidavit banega.
Rishabh- Affidavit mein likha hoga maine is bacchey ka ghar mein hi prasav karaya. Is dauran is san [year] mein ye ghar par hi hua.
Rishabh (continues)- Ye file… Baluganj mein rehtey ho na aap? Tajganj Mughal ki pulia par office hai nagar nigam ka, wahan par jama hogi. Wahan se Vishnu babu isko supervisor ko bhejenge, supervisor wo aapki file ko lekar aayega dono padosiyon ke sign lega, chala jayega. Phir wo file CMO ke pass jayegi, Vishnu babu le jayenge Tajganj se CMO karyaleya, wahan sign kara ke layenge, ek tareekh de denge aapko. Us file ko aap laakar mujhe de dengey.
Reporter- Kitna time lag jayega poora procedure ke liye?
Rishabh- Kam se kam agar SDM sahib ke pass aap jayenge to guarantee hai wo jaldi kar denge, magar agar koi anpadh vyakti jayega, usey to pagal kar denge ghuma denge.
Reporter- Kharcha kitna aayega ismein?
Rishabh- Kharcha to matalab ismein affidavit banege ab mata-pita to hain nahi, to 2 affidavit kam banege, 3-4 aafidavit banenge ek aapke naam ka ban jayega…SDM ki manao to uske yahan to kuch lagta nahi hai, wahan to 100-50 rupees form ke honge to yehi upper ki isi kharchon mein ho jayega kuch.
Reporter- Kitna?
Rishabah- Accha bhaga dauri aapki taraf se kaun karega?
Reporter- Tum hi karoge.
Rishabh- Accha dekh lenge karwa denge, jo is mein diya wahi de dena.
Reporter- Rs 5000?
Rishabh- Kam hi de dena.
Reporter- Tum kya karaoge ye batao?
Rishabh- Ye ghar wali jo file hoti hain hum inhe kam karate hain, koi khas vyakti hota hai usi ki karwate hain.
Reporter- Tumhara kya role hai 5000 mein?
Rishabh- CMO se clear karwaonga, supervisor ko dekh lunga, bas SDM ke liye tumhe bulaonga.
Reporter- Ek mahine mein bana dogey?
Rishabh- Haan.
Reporter- Guarantee hai?
Rishabh- Arey ek mahina nahi to 15 din zyada lag jayega.
Reporter- Birth certificate mera banney ki to guarantee hai
Rishabh- Kyon nahi banego… duniya ki koi taakat nahi rokwa sakti.
[In the above exchange, the reporter asks how his birth certificate will be made when no official entry exists. Rishabh explains a long route of affidavits, witnesses, and office movement. He describes how the file will travel through different offices and officials. Slowly, the process turns from a procedure into a managed exercise.]
Rishabh now told us that he is a bigger broker than Bobby, another broker of Agra Nagar Nigam whom we met later. Rishabh suggested getting a Non-Availability Birth Certificate (NABC), which, according to him, works as a substitute for a birth certificate. He said he could get the NABC made in a week, in a day, in two days, or even in one hour. While talking to us, Rishabh pointed to the mobile phone lying on the table and said he was afraid of a sting, adding that he hoped we were not recording him.
Reporter- Agar birth certificate nahi hota to NABC bhi banta hai koi?
Rishabh- NABC …ye phone to chalu na hai…hehe…?
Reporter- Arey iski fikar na karo.
Rishabh- Hame darr lagta hai..hehe…NABC ek aisa certificate hota hai Non Availability Certificate, usmein ye rehta hai ek is vyakti ka birth Agra mein to hua hai, parantu iske koi dastavez, koi saboot nahi hai, record nahi hain, to wo certificate jab kaam mein aata hai jaise man lijiye aap America ja rahe hain, London ja rahe hain, ya Hindustan se bahar passport ke liye, ussey ek laabh nahi mil payega, jo ki aap aadhar card mein ched chad nahi kar payenge ussey. Baki ki duniya ke saare kaam ho jayenge.
Reporter- Matlab NABC India mein bhi chalega, bahar bhi?
Rishabh- Haan.
Reporter- Usko banwane ka kitna kharcha?
Rishabh- Pooch kar batana padega.
Reporter- Kitne din mein?
Rishabh- Jab kahoge tab banwa denge.
Reporter- Birth certificate banwana aasan hai ya NABC?
Rishabh- NABC.
Reporter- Dono mein se kya banwana chaiye?
Rishabh- Agar aap ko dekha jaye to NABC.
Reporter- Kyun?
Rishabh- Aap royal aadmi ho.
Reporter- Mein royal aadmi lag raha hoon aapko?
Rishabh- Haan, haha.. NABC banwa loge to theek rahega, itna daurna bhagna nahi padega.
Reporter- Accha, theek hai, mein soch kar batata hoon. Kitne din mein banwa dogey?
Rishabh- Ek saptaah mein.
Reporter- Wo to keh raha tha, ek mahina mein ek banta hai?
Rishabh- Bobby naya murga hai abhi, Yamuna mein utara hai.
Reporter- Tu usko batana mat maine bola hai.
Rishabh- Wo Yamuna mein abhi tair raha hai; hum tair ke bahar aa chuke hain. NABC mein chahu to 2 din mein banwa doon, ek din mein banwa doon, ek ghanta mein banwa doon, lekin abhi bada babu aaya nahi hai, isliye mein bol raha hoon.
[In the above dialogue, the reporter asks whether an NABC can be made when a birth certificate is missing. Rishabh explains what the document is and where it can be used. As the talk goes on, he boasts about how fast he can get the NABC made. What this reveals is that speed itself is being sold as a service.]
Rishabh then revealed how he got my number and got my parents’ death certificates made for Rs 5,000 as a bribe. Rishabh revealed how we had first approached another broker of the Agra Municipal Corporation, Shyam, for the work, who, in turn, approached Rishabh for help. Rishabh said he took my number from my documents and called me directly, sidelining Shyam. This shows how, in the Agra Nagar Nigam, brokers undercut and betray one another in the scramble for clients and money.
Reporter- Mujhe to tune mana kar diya tha Shyam ke saath aaya tha, nahi hoga?
Rishabh- Arey tab bheed lag rahi hogi mere pass, wa din bahut bheed hogi.
Reporter- Phir tune phone kaise kiya mujhe?
Rishabh- Aisa tha, Shyam aaya pada tha, keh raha that tu mere sath hai mein tere saath hoon, meine socha ye peeche pada hua hai zaroor koi maal banana hai, ye iska record mil kyun nahi raha hai, aur baar baar ye zid kyun kar raha hai, kabhi mere pass aa raha, kabhi kisi ke pass. Phir maine kaha “Shyam babu tu pehle decide kar le kaun ki taraf hai,” phir usne kaha “tum to kara nahi paogey, hum ussey hi kara lenge” Maine kaha “theek hai kara lo mere pass time nahi hai.”
Reporter- Shyam bola?
Rishabh- Phir maine dekh li tumhari file nikalai maine, ye register nikalo baba,…baba ne pol khol di baba ne kaha, mein bhar ne gao, wa mein pehle se bhare bharaye nikle.
Reporter- Number mera kahan se mila tumhe?
Rishabh- Wahi mein se..maine kahi saale iski copy karo, phir maine uski copy kari.
[Here, Rishabh explains why he had earlier refused to take up the work and how he later changed his mind. He describes how Shyam kept pushing the case and how he finally checked the file. He also tells how the records were found and how he got the reporter’s phone number from the file.]
In the below exchange, Rishabh talks about how he gets clients and the scale of his earnings. He explains that his contact number is widely known, and that he has been earning far more than his official salary over the past year. He said that, for the past year, he has been earning between Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000 per month through bribes, whereas earlier he was surviving on a salary of just Rs 5,000–6,000.
Reporter- Tumko client miltey kaise hain?
Rishabh- Mere number bat gaye hain duniya mein
Reporter- Lakh rupay mahina kama rahe ho. Ghar kyun nahi banatey apna Agra mein?
Rishabh- Paise to ab kamana start hua hai, pehle 5-6 hazar hi miltey they.
Reporter- Kab se kama rahe ho?
Rishabh- Ek saal se.
Reporter- Lakh rupees mahina kama letey ho?
Rishabh- Lakh to nahi.. 30-40 (hazaar) hai jaaye aaram se, oopar bhi mil jaate hain, kam bhi.
[As Rishab reveals that he has been earning far more than his official salary over the past year, the discussion highlights how quickly informal networks translate into substantial income. This shows how personal networks and reputation drive business more than official work.]
Rishabh then revealed an incident of corruption in Agra Nagar Nigam, where some brokers had prepared a death certificate for a person who was actually alive. He said they were all sent to jail and are now facing trial. It reveals how far the racket can go.
Reporter- Bobby to ye keh raha tha aadmi agar zinda bhi hai, tab bhi death certificate banwa dunga?
Rishabh- Bobby phir jail katega, jail kaat saale.
Reporter- Aisa bhi ho jata hai zinda admi ka?
Rishabh- Nahi hota yaar. Ek baar ban gaya tha, ek ladke ne banwa liya, pita uska bahar gaya tha, abhi tak case chal raha hai uska.
Reporter- Nagar Nigam ka adhikari tha?
Risjabh- Haan, ye Bobby.. samajh lo ye saare blacklist mein chal rahe hain.
Reporter- Bobby ne banwaya tha?
Rishabh- Bobby samajh lo, aur bhi hain, abhi tak jaate hain tareekh par ye log. Sardar hain.. keh raha hai jaan le lunga magar chodunga nahi.
Reporter- Sardar hai baap?
Rishabh- Haan.. keh raha hai chodunga nahi saale ko.
[In the above exchange, the reporter checks a shocking claim about making a death certificate for a man who is still alive. Rishabh reacts strongly and says such people end up in jail. He recalls one real case where this was done and the matter is still in court. This episode shows that even life and death records can be twisted for money.]
On the question of making fresh birth certificates for us, Rishabh said things are tough for Muslims in the administrative set-up under this government. He explained that our birth certificate file would go to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), who would call us and ask several questions. This, he added, is not the case with Hindus applying for fresh birth certificates, who are asked fewer questions in comparison.
Rishabh, meanwhile, had reissued two death certificates of the reporter’s parents for a bribe of Rs 5,000. He further promised to get a birth certificate and NABC made for the reporter in exchange for money.
The Tehelka reporter then met Bobby (known by first name only), another broker and an outsourced employee of the Agra Municipal Corporation. The meeting took place at a restaurant on Fatehabad Road, Agra. We offered a fake deal to Bobby for the death certificates and NABC. Bobby demanded Rs 8,000 for the death certificates and Rs 5,000 for the NABC. Since we had already obtained the death certificates from Rishabh, we requested only for the NABC. Bobby told us he could get the NABC made in 15 days, not one month as people say. “We are paying money to get your NABC in 15 days, and I also have to pay others in the corporation,” Bobby added. In the following exchange, Bobby explains how the NABC can be obtained and clarifies that it works for both local and foreign purposes.
Bobby- Aapka NABC lag jayega na tab aapka jhanjhat khatam ho jayega.
Reporter- Non availability birth certificate. Lekin wo to videsh jane ke liye istemaal hota hai, local thodi chalega?
Bobby- Haan chalega, chalega kyun nahi.
Reporter- Mujhe bataya hai videsh jate hain unko chaiye hota hai.
Bobby- Jinka record nahi hota unke liye lagta hai.
Reporter- Accha jiska birth record nahi hai India mein, uske liye chal jayega?
Reporter (continues)- Kitne din mein NABC banwa dogey?
Bobby- NABC.. 15 din mein.
Reporter- Haath mein mil jayega?
Bobby- Haath mein. Aap kahogey to mein speed post kar dunga.
Reporter- Mujhe koi keh raha tha ek mahine mein ek hi detey hain?
Bobby- Hota hai.. paise kis liye ja rahe hain.
Reporter- Total kharcha kitna?
Bobby- Aath.
Reporter- Aath hazar?
Bobby-Haan.
Reporter- Kam kitna ho sakta hai ?
Bobby-Aap bataiye?
Reporter- Paanch kar lo?
Bobby-Nahi, itna nahi ho sakta 100-200-500 mein kar sakta hoon, kyunki mujhe bhi 2-4 logon ko dena padega.
Reporter-Accha, Nagar Nigam mein dena padega?
Bobby- Dena padega… seedhi si baat hai.
Reporter- Aap filhal NABC ka bata do.
Bobby-Paanch.
Reporter-NABC ka 5000, zyada nahi ho raha hai ye?
Bobby- Kaise bhi kar lo wo to dena padega, death certificate aapko chahiye hi chahiye.
Reporter- Mein to keh raha hoon, dono paach hazar mein kar lo?
Bobby-Itna nahi ho payega.
[As Bobby promises to get NABC ready in 15 days and discusses the costs involved, the discussion reveals how payments are distributed within the corporation and how negotiating the bribe has limits. This shows that money flows to multiple hands before work is done.]
Bobby then demanded Rs 5,000 as a bribe for the NABC. We paid him Rs 3,000 online and agreed to give the remaining Rs 2,000 after receiving the NABC. The following discussion also reveals that the NABC cannot be issued without showing the death certificates first.
Reporter- Ab akele NABC kara do abhi uska mein bata dunga, kitna bhej doon apko abhi?
Bobby-Bhai, aaye ho to cash de do?
Reporter-Pata nahi hoga bhi ke nahi.. itna aajkal cash kaun le kar chalta hai.
Reporter (continues)- Cash hai nahi zyada, 100 rupees hain. NABC ke dekh lo aap?
Bobby (on receiving the money on phone)- 1000?
Reporter- Abhi mein total de raha hoon aapko…arey poore thodi hain ye.
Bobby- Online aap bhaiya ko counter par de do unse paise le lo.
Reporter- Nahi wo nahi karte, pehle mein kar chuka hoon. Ye aap banao, mein online bhej dunga aapko, cash to nahi hoga.
Reporter- Mein online bhej dunga aapko, 1000 rupees to ho gaye aapke pass NABC ke.
Bobby- Lo aap online bhej do.
Reporter- 2000 aur bhej deta hoon, 3000 ho jayenge, phir theek hai?
Reporter (continues)- Total 5000 ki baat hui hai NABC mein. 3000 de diye, 2000 reh gaye
Bobby- Theek hai, death certificate aapko purana nikalna padega.
Reporter- Accha.
Bobby- Kyunki jahan bhi aap NABC lagaogey na, wahan death certificate mangenge.
[In the above exchange, the reporter and Bobby discuss the payment for the NABC. Bobby insists on receiving part of the bribe in cash and the rest online. This shows how even payments are broken into stages. Work cannot proceed without money, highlighting how routine procedures are turned into opportunities for profit.]
After Bobby, our reporter met Shyam (known by first name only), another broker of the Agra Municipal Corporation. We offered him a fake deal for obtaining the NABC. Shyam advised the reporter to go for the NABC, saying that getting a birth certificate from the Nigam records is very difficult. He added that a bribe would be required for the NABC, of which only Rs 400–500 would go into his own pocket.
Reporter- Mein ye keh raha tha agar mera birth certificate mil gaya phir to NABC ki zaroorat nahi padegi ?
Shayam- Nahi padegi?
Reporter- To aap mujhe suggestion do pehle mein birth certificate dhoondu aap ke through?
Shayam- Parson aapko clear kar dunga.
Reporter- Ya NABC banwaon ?
Shayam- Dekho mein abhi kuch nahi keh sakta, meri jeb mein 400-500 se zyada nahi jayenge.
Reporter- Nahi aap mujhe ye batao mera birth certificate milne ki kitni sambhavna hai ?
Shyam- 99 percent nahi hai, ek percent hai ki mil jayega
Reporter- Mil jayega ek percent..aisa kyun ?
Shyam- Kyunki ye to bahut purana matter ho gaya hai, doosre kuch aapke pass proof hota entry ventry ka, to hum khujawa detey.
Reporter- To aap ek kaam karo ab khujwao mat, aap isi ke base par NABC banwa lo, wo birth certificate ki tarah hi hai na.
[Here, Shyam explains that the chances of getting the birth certificate are extremely low. He then suggests using the NABC as a substitute, effectively bypassing the difficult process. This shows how rare records and complicated procedures push people towards alternative certificates.]
Shyam then demanded Rs 3,500 as a bribe from the Tehelka reporter for getting one NABC made. He also revealed that he had got one NABC made for someone three to four months ago. Shyam asked us to visit the Agra Nagar Nigam office and said that nobody there would do the work for an amount less than what he was taking from us.
Reporter- Jo certificate aapne banwaya hai NABC wala, usko mujhe whatsapp kar do.
Shyam- Theek hai..aap padhna chao padh lo kyunki kisi aur ka kagaz hai..aap NABC mein kisi aur se rai bhi le lo…dekh liya aapne.. jahan uska naam hai wahan aapka aa jayega.
Reporter- Ye to abhi banwaya hai aapne?
Shyam- Haan 3-4 mahine ho gaye.
Reporter- Kastoor Chand Goyal…Arun Kumar Goyal, son of Kastoor Kumar Goyal…inke bacchey hain videsh mein. Kitne din mein banwa diya aapne?
Shyam- Banwa diya maine 15 din, hafte mein banwa diya ab to pehle, jaise chaho banwa lo, ab iski zyada demand badh gayi hai..mein ander gaya ..ab keh rahe hain mahine mein do jaari kar raha hoon.
Reporter- Matlab?
Shyam- Matlab 2 hi NABC jaari kar rahe hain.
Reporter- To mein de doon aapko.. Rs 3500 de doon?
Shyam- Lekin ye kagaz pahuch ke.
Reporter- Do hi to bhejne hai mujhe, 10th ka certificate aur passport, bas?
Shyam- Haan PDF bana kar bhejna muje taki print saaf nikal aaye.
Reporter- Ye lo gin lo Rs 3500 hain..ye de diya maine NABC ka.
Shyam- Haan.
Reporter- Zyada to nahi lagega?
Shyam- Ab aap upper ka hisab to dekh hi aaye ho, jin jin se milwaya maine dekh hi liya wo saamne bethe they, aap kabhi chale jaana aankh moond ke, kamra dekh liye, logon ko pehchan liya, agar jo maine bataya ussey kam mein bana de koi!
Reporter- Kagaz dene ke baad?
Shyam- Haan…to mein aapko saare de dunga, 1000 rupees aur de doonga!
[In the above exchange, Shyam shows a recently issued NABC on his phone and explains how such papers are arranged. He talks about the time taken, the rising demand, and the limits set inside the office. The bargaining then turns into a clear price talk. Money changes hands, and the deal is sealed with file requirements and quiet assurances.]
Non-Availability Birth Certificate (NABC) has become a hot commodity in Agra Municipal Corporation. Brokers demand Rs 5,000 as bribe to issue an NABC quickly. The NABC is an official document issued by authorities in India under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, certifying that no birth record exists for an individual. It is crucial for passports, visas, and immigration, especially for those born before 1970 or in rural areas, serving as a valid substitute for a formal birth certificate.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the slogan “Na Khaunga Na Khane Dunga,” people became optimistic that corruption in India would significantly decline. But after witnessing the corruption at Agra Municipal Corporation, where no work proceeds without money, it is evident that those in power have largely ignored the Prime Minister’s call. The corruption at Agra Nagar Nigam is only the tip of the iceberg, reflecting how systemic bribery has embedded itself in local governance, undermining both transparency and public trust.
