FIR Filed in Lucknow Over Major Data Tampering and Cyber Fraud in Ayushman Bharat System

An FIR has been registered at Hazratganj police station after the Uttar Pradesh State Health Agency, which runs the Ayushman Bharat scheme, reported a major case of data manipulation and cyber fraud.

According to officials, mobile numbers linked with the Aadhaar IDs of several government employees working under SACHIS (State Agency for Comprehensive Health and Integrated Services) were changed without their knowledge. These changes allegedly allowed fraudsters to gain access to secure government health portals by using unauthorized OTPs.

Dr. Sachin Vaishya, the state nodal officer of the agency, said the fraud was discovered when multiple officials found that their Aadhaar-linked numbers had been altered. The tampering is suspected to have been done either by illegally accessing the Aadhaar system or by using fake documents and forged identities.

This security breach put sensitive personal data of employees at risk and raised fears of identity theft, financial fraud, and misuse of government credentials.

The case first came to light after Shivam Pathak, president of Shri Baba Shyam Samaj Seva Sansthan in Lucknow, wrote a letter on October 21 to the CEO of Ayushman Bharat, Uttar Pradesh, reporting the unauthorized issuance of Ayushman cards.

During verification, officials found that a user ID registered under Safe Way Health Insurance TPA was being operated by a person named Abul Kalam, who was not employed with the company. The firm confirmed that he had no official connection with them.

Further checks revealed a pattern of similar unauthorized logins from changed Aadhaar-linked numbers. The State Health Agency has also informed the UIDAI regional office in Gomtinagar and the National Health Authority (NHA) in New Delhi, seeking a full investigation and tighter data security.

Police have registered the FIR under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology (IT) Act on the direction of DCP Central Lucknow.

Additional DCP (Central Zone) J.K. Dubey confirmed that an FIR has been filed and said that steps are being taken to strengthen the security of government health data. The authorities are now working with UIDAI and the NHA to prevent any further misuse of official information.