Rs 7,500 is all it takes to get a genuine passport

PASSPORT TO TERROR: It's easy for those who can bribe, to get any document to prove an Indian citizenship.

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New Delhi: In the 60th year of India's Independence, could Anand Kumar Gupta get the right to vote? The route was familiar - meet brokers, the front men of a corrupt babudom.

Bharat (tout): "Usmein lagega kariban Rs 1,800. Ek din mein hi ban ke mil jaega vo. Aur waise aap usse banwaoge to vo teen saal mei banega. Pehle voter list mei naam chadwaoge, 6 number form bharke, fir voter list mein naam." ("It will take about Rs 1,800 and it will be made in one day. If you get it done through the proper method, then it will take three years to make. You will have to get your name included in the voters' list, then fill form number 6 and then you will get the Voter I-card.")

Bharat, the tout has promised a genuine Voter I-card -- issued ostensibly by the Election Commission -- for Rs 1,800.

In the previous part, Anand Kumar Gupta, the "sleeper terrorist" has achieved a lot -- from a birth certificate to a Voter I-card, every document he has got is genuine.

So who can now challenge Anand Kumar Gupta's passport application?

At the Passport Office, the writ of the Government of India is abused every passing second. The place is swarming with touts like Birju.

Birju: "Aur hum isme kharcha lenge Rs 7,500." ("We will take Rs 7,500 for making your passport.")

CNN-IBN: "Zyada nahi hai?" ("Isn't it too much?")

Birju: "Zyada to hai, par papers nahi hai apke pas, to andar to dene padenge." ("It is a lot, but you don't have the required papers and we will have to give some money inside also.")

Birju promises to fix everything, including the mandatory police verification.

CNN-IBN: "Aur vo verification kisse kara rahe ho?" ("And who will you get the documents verfied from?")

Birju: "Hum kisi se nahi karwaenge, seedhi baat hai, hum to yeh hai. Isko check karna hai." ("We won't get the verification done from anyone.")

Birju: "Ek minute do, main confirm to karlun, agle se baat to karlun, fir agar ho jae to mai pakdun, na ho to mai saaf mana karduin." ("Give me one minute and let me confirm this. If it can be done, then I will do it, else I will tell you straight off that it cannot be done)"

Birju goes to confirm inside. Birju has also agreed to provide a fake school certificate and proof of one year's residence in Delhi. He is paid Rs 7,500.

Birju: "Date-vate piche ka hum karwa denge." ("We will get it backdated by one year, your stay in Delhi.")

CNN-IBN: "Aap batao kitna kharcha beth raha hai. Rs 7,500 bahut zyada hai." (Tell us how much it will cost. Rs 7,500 is too much.")

Birju: "Rs 7,000 - Rs 7,500 se kam nahi lagega. Baad sakta hai lekin kam nahi lagega kyunki documents mein bahut problem aa raha hai. Date of birth nahi hai." ("It won't be less than Rs 7,000. It may be more, because there is a lot of problem in the documents and you don't have a date of birth here too.")

A fake eighth standard pass certificate plugs the last hole in the application and Anand Kumar Gupta's Tatkal or urgent passport application is accepted.

The officers inside the Passport Office accept the application. With the application accepted, the brokers demanded their pay-offs.

Sachin (tout): "Payment do." (You have to pay us.)

CNN-IBN: Batao kitna dena hai? ("How much do I have to pay?")

Birju (tout): "Rs 5,000."

Some haggling ensues. However, everything is settled and a week later, Anand Kumar Gupta's passport arrives -- Passport No 63095659. A passport for a man who does not exist.

It took Citizen X 45 days and just Rs 35,000 to become a bonafide Indian.

As India turns 60, we must stop to think why is it easy for those who can bribe, to get any document to prove an Indian citizenship, a route that even terrorists can take.

And why is it so difficult for law abiding citizens to get the most ordinary document issued from a government office?