MUZAFFARPUR, Bihar—Allegations of payments running into lakhs of rupees for Aadhaar enrolment centre allotments, commissions on entries, and retaliatory blacklisting have surfaced in Muzaffarpur, where an operator has sought an inquiry into the functioning of permanent Aadhaar enrollment centers.
The District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Muzaffarpur, subsequently issued a notice directing the complainant, Raju Kumar, to appear with an affidavit supporting his allegations against the district Aadhaar coordinator. The notice, dated Oct. 3, 2026, scheduled his appearance for 3 p.m. on Oct. 7.
Kumar’s 14-point complaint, which he said was submitted to the District Magistrate’s office on Sept. 19, 2024, names Deepak Sharma, the district Aadhaar coordinator, and the registrar of the Rural Development Department.
Among the most serious claims, Kumar alleged that permanent Aadhaar enrolment centres were being allotted in exchange for payments of 200,000 to 300,000 rupees. He also alleged that operators were being made to pay commissions on enrolment entries and that those who raised complaints faced retaliatory action, including blacklisting.
A penalty notice worth more than Rs. 10 lakh
Kumar further alleged that he received a penalty notice for 1,079,000 rupees after submitting a report on Sept. 9, 2024, about the alleged irregularities. He questioned the action and sought an investigation into the operation of an Aadhaar machine in Kanti block, which he claimed was functioning without an authorised operator.
The complainant said he possessed call recordings and video footage to support his claims. He also alleged that he had approached the Cyber Police Station in Muzaffarpur over the matter.
DRDA asks complainant to back allegations
In its Oct. 3 notice, the DRDA referred to the corruption allegations against the district coordinator and directed Kumar to appear with an affidavit concerning their veracity. The notice asked him to present himself before the issuing official at the scheduled time.
The notice does not establish whether a formal investigation was launched or whether the allegations were substantiated. The documents available also do not confirm whether Kumar appeared on Oct. 7 or submitted the requested affidavit.
The allegations against Sharma and the other officials have not been independently verified. The documents provided contain no response from the officials named in the complaint, and no finding of wrongdoing has been established.
The case raises questions about the oversight of Aadhaar enrolment operations in the district. The allegations, however, will require independent investigation and examination of the evidence before any conclusions can be drawn.
