Andhra Pradesh: Anyone seen Ali?Andhra Pradesh | Updated Apr 28, 2012 at 10:49am IST
HYDERABAD: Intelligence agencies are sitting bolt upright after finding
that a data entry operator went on an Aadhar card enrolment spree in the
Old City of Hyderabad, enlisting no less than 30,000 residents in a
matter of five months.
Such was the man’s hurry that in the column
meant for fingerprints and Iris images, he reported that his wards had
no hands at all and were blind to boot.
Aadhar cards, issued by the
Unique Indentification Authority of India (UIDAI), are given only to
genuine citizens of India, and intel agencies say the recent spate of
fake card scams has troubling security implications.
The data entry
operator, identified only as Ali, was a representative of the
Noida-based firm Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services, one of
the eight firms contracted by the state government to enrol citizens for
Aadhar cards.
Ali’s enrollment of 30,000 residents within five
months, including 870 from Charminar, showed up as a blip on the intel
radar. An enrolment of 1,500 applicants per month is thought to be
average for an operator.
Intrigued by Ali’s quick work, sleuths made
random enquiries into 60 of the applications processed by him.
Side-stepping the columns for fingerprints and iris images, the operator
recorded that his applicants had no hands and were blind as well.
Also,
investigators were shocked to find that the addresses given in the
applications did not exist at all. They are now clueless as to where
these fake Aadhar card holders are and for what purpose the cards are
being used.
The matter has jolted the top brass in the state
administration as well as the Civil Supplies Department, which
supervises the Aadhar programme. Top officials are contemplating
referring the probe to the National Investigating Agency (NIA) or the
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
As for Ali, a case has been
registered -- citing forgery, cheating and criminal conspiracy --
against him in the Charminar police station, but sources said he has
scooted to Mumbai. ‘’He has not been seen around her for two months,’’
sources said.