By Express News Service | Published: 29th October 2017 02:28 AM |
HYDERABAD: Aadhaar data of close to 300 people are believed to be compromised by three persons, one of whom is a former E-Seva operator, and a sum of `40 lakh meant for Aasara Public Health Scheme was siphoned off. While the three have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody, police suspect role of employees in Tehsildar office in Bandlaguda for sanctioning pensions under Aasara scheme in the scam. Investigators are also on the lookout for more victims. Further, police are yet to establish whether the three accused have siphoned off money from other government schemes as well. It is also not clear if more people are involved in the scam.
A 36-year-old Shaik Shabbir Hussain, who worked as operator in e-Seva center, allegedly stole data of Aadhaar cards from e-Seva centre and shared the same with other accused for committing fraud in getting pension illegally on fictitious names. Apart from stealing data and opening as many bank accounts, the trio also impersonated authorised persons and committed fraud of applying Aasara pensions
The preliminary investigation has revealed that Shabbir Hussain was approached by two other accused Mohammed Abdul Khader Nakshbandi Aziz, employee in a SBI Kiosk Customer Service Point in Edi Bazar and Md Aslam, junior assistant of TSSPCL of Nalgonda district.
The investigators told Express that they strongly suspect Shabbir Hussain and Mohammed Abdul Khader Nakshbandi Aziz for their role in stealing data of Aadhaar data of innocent persons from eSeva center and SBI kiosk customer Service center illegally and colluded with Aslam in applying for Aasara pensions by opening bank accounts on fictitious names by submitting stolen Aadhar card information.
The investigation officer N Sanjeeva Rao, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) said that they have intensified the probe to get more information in connection with the fraud and to collect details of victims whose Aadhaar cards were misused by the accused. The police would file a petition before the court seeking custody of accused for questioning regarding the Aadhaar cards data misusing offence.
“The investigation to be established about the accused whether they applied for any other government schemes for getting benefits illegally by submitting stolen data. It will only reveal after we questioning them in police custody,’’ investigators said. The CCS police also requested the public if their Aadhaar cards were used illegally without their knowledge for any purpose by unknown persons, they can be contacted police and lodge a complaint.