Aadhaar card scam unearthed in Hyderabad
Mahesh Buddi, TNN Apr
27, 2012, 03.09AM IST
HYDERABAD: Raising serious security issues over Aadhaar cards, an
enrolment agent has processed 30,000 unique indentity cards (ID) within a
span of just six months in the Old City. Also, among them 800 were
enrolled under the physically-disabled persons category. However, a
probe by investigating agencies revealed that the Aadhaar cards
registered under the physically-disabled category were created with fake
identities.
The civil supplies department, which is the nodal agency for rolling out Aadhaar cards in the state, had assigned the task of enrolling citizens to eight companies, including Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited. The fraud was committed by infrastructure major IL&FS's data entry supervisor of the Old City, whose first name, according to civil supplies department sources, is Mohammed.
On April 20, the state government authorities became suspicious about the fraud as the agent had registered details of 30,000 people for Aadhaar card in a span of just six months, which would normally take two years. On scrutiny, they found that 800 enrolments were under the physically-disabled quota, where a person is without either fingers or eyes.
The uniqueness of Aadhaar card is inclusion of iris scan and fingerprint details in the card's micro chip. However, to include those without fingers and eyes, an option has been provided in the enrolment process, where it would be declared that the candidate does not have fingers or eyes. As Aadhaar card would not have these details printed on the card, it would become easy for the fake user to utilize the card to get essential identification documents like a passport.
Based on the government's directions, the Charminar police have conducted a probe into these physically-disabled Aadhaar card holders and found out that none of those candidates reside at the given addresses and their other details were also fake. After the probe, the civil supplies authorities were informed and they gave the go ahead to book a case against the supervisor.
On Thursday, police booked cases under sections 468, 471, 419, 420 and 120-B of the IPC against Mohammed. As police began probe into the activity, he fled from the city a few days ago.
However, a special team nabbed him in Mumbai. He would be brought to city soon. "We are looking into the possibility that all the 30,000 Aadhaar card registrations made by him could be fake and the main challenge is to know for whom he did it and what purpose," a police officer said.
Comment:
The civil supplies department, which is the nodal agency for rolling out Aadhaar cards in the state, had assigned the task of enrolling citizens to eight companies, including Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited. The fraud was committed by infrastructure major IL&FS's data entry supervisor of the Old City, whose first name, according to civil supplies department sources, is Mohammed.
On April 20, the state government authorities became suspicious about the fraud as the agent had registered details of 30,000 people for Aadhaar card in a span of just six months, which would normally take two years. On scrutiny, they found that 800 enrolments were under the physically-disabled quota, where a person is without either fingers or eyes.
The uniqueness of Aadhaar card is inclusion of iris scan and fingerprint details in the card's micro chip. However, to include those without fingers and eyes, an option has been provided in the enrolment process, where it would be declared that the candidate does not have fingers or eyes. As Aadhaar card would not have these details printed on the card, it would become easy for the fake user to utilize the card to get essential identification documents like a passport.
Based on the government's directions, the Charminar police have conducted a probe into these physically-disabled Aadhaar card holders and found out that none of those candidates reside at the given addresses and their other details were also fake. After the probe, the civil supplies authorities were informed and they gave the go ahead to book a case against the supervisor.
On Thursday, police booked cases under sections 468, 471, 419, 420 and 120-B of the IPC against Mohammed. As police began probe into the activity, he fled from the city a few days ago.
However, a special team nabbed him in Mumbai. He would be brought to city soon. "We are looking into the possibility that all the 30,000 Aadhaar card registrations made by him could be fake and the main challenge is to know for whom he did it and what purpose," a police officer said.
Comment:
I've been waiting for some scam like this to come up soon. All the theories about how great the scheme is, how useful getting a unique ID card would be for the development of the nation, how easy it is going to be for poor people to get all that they need with the help of this card.. there are hundreds of other reasons why this card was going to benefit the Indian citizen, according to Nilekani, Rajagopal etc..
While theories look good on paper, we have to consider reality on the ground in India. NOTHING will stay the same as on paper. We do not have the integrity or the will to do anything honestly and properly.. As such, any scheme that even a western, developed nation like the UK didn't implement, will not work here.
Will anybody stop the massive expense of this nonsense and pay attention to basic roti, kapda, makaan for poor people and pay attention to implementing the various, approved, passed bills to enforce all the laws and schemes that are available? Nothing else is needed. Enforcement just doesn't get done because of our lack of integrity and a sense of honour. That cannot be grown or printed in this country. Which department works well without bribe? Which need of an ordinary citizen gets done without paying somebody some kind of bribe or using some "influence"? UID will not make all those things happen. It is a sheer waste of money..
This incident is just the tip of the iceberg that has been unearthed, many more will come out. That is the nature of the beast in India..
Rebecca.
