Tribune reporter’s name figures in Aadhaar FIR, admits govt

Ravi S.Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 28

The government for the first time on Wednesday accepted that the name of ‘The Tribune’ reporter Rachna Khaira figures in the case registered by Cyber Cell of Delhi Police in the alleged Aadhaar data leak case.

Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir informed Rajya Sabha in a written reply that the FIR has been registered on the complaint of Deputy Director (Logistics and Grievance Redressal), Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

He said the case has been registered vide FIR No 09/2018 dated January 5, under Sections 34/37 of the Aadhaar Act 2016, under Sections 419, 420, 468, 471 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under Section 66 of Information Technology Act at Police Station Crime Branch.

“The name of journalist of ‘Tribune Newspaper’ finds a mention,” Ahir said.

He added: “During the course of investigation, information related to the case has been asked from UIDAI.”

The query in the matter was jointly made by Samajwadi Party’s Rajya Sabha members Neeraj Shekhar and Ravi Prakash Verma.

The information sought, include: 1) Whether Delhi Police Cyber Cell has registered an FIR for reports on leakage of millions of Aadhaar details on Whatsapp for Rs 500 only on January 5, 2018 and; 2) The details of the progress and newspaper against whom FIR has been filed and the details of the progress of investigation in the allegations against accused since January 5 till March 12, 2018.

Earlier, Union Minister for Information Technology Minister, and for Law and Justice, Ravi Shankar Prasad, had tweeted on January 8, 2018: “The government is fully committed to freedom of Press as well as to maintaining security and sanctity of Aadhaar for India’s development. FIR is against unknown.”

Subsequently, Prasad while responding to a question in Rajya Sabha on the matter affirmed that no individual has been named in the case.

Meanwhile, Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police (Crime Branch) Alok Kumar told Tribune that the FIR has been lodged against the newspaper and and its reporter.

Anil Kumar, Sunil Kumar and Raj -- all of whom were mentioned in the Tribune report as the persons the reporter had contacted in the course of the her investigation have also been named in the FIR.

Delhi Police Cyber Cell is investigating the Aadhaar data access case against the newspaper, the reporter and others, including unknown persons. The investigators have already tracked the three outside persons named in the news report, he added.

Kumar further said the role of the police is viewing the role of the reporter in a positive manner and would soon ask her to join the investigation, if needed.

The case is being investigated by a team headed by ACP Sandeep Lamba, who said exercise to arrest the three persons who sold unauthorised access details is afoot.

Lamba said the probe team sought details from UIDAI in regard to the FIR but the information provided was inadequate. Another senior probe official said it does not necessarily mean that everyone in the FIR is a culprit alluding to the role of the reporter.