Aadhaar data of 7.8 crores with IT grids, UIDAI files FIR for Data theft

Mangalore Today News Network

Hyderabad, Apr 15, 2019 : The Hyberabad police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against information technology firm IT Grids India Pvt Ltd for possession of Aadhaar data of more than 7.8 crores belonging to individuals of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The complaint was filed by officials of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Yahonews reported.

 

Both Telugu states combined have a population of approximately 8.4 crores. The firm facing the data theft charges was using it to develop TDP’s Seva Mitra application, reported the Times of India. According to the complaint, the data was in a removable storage device in breach of Aadhaar Act. Aadhaar-PAN Linking Deadline Extended Till September 30, 2019: CBDT.

The analysis of hard disks showed that the firm was in possession of 78,221,397 records of Aadhar belonging to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. In the analysis, Telangana State Forensic Science Laboratory (TSFSL) officials found the structure and size of the database in possession of IT Grids was similar to data owned by UIDAI.

Based on the information given by the 9-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), the UIDAI Hyderabad regional deputy director Bhavani Prasad on Friday lodged a complaint with the Madhapur police under relevant sections of Aadhaar Act, 2016. The case was transferred to SIT led by Inspector-General (IG) of police (West Zone) Stephen Ravindra.

According to reports, Seva Mitra app is suspected to be using the stolen Aadhaar data and voter information for targeted campaigning, voter profiling and even deletion of voters. Meanwhile, the investigators refused to answer whether the IT Grids CEO Ashok Dakavaram is arrested or not.