72,000 ‘fraudulent’ Aadhaar cards found linked with PDS

Sumedha Sharma

Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, December 22

The Food and Supplies Department authorities of Tawdu block in Mewat district have come under scanner as around 72,000 fraudulent Aadhaar cards were detected to be attached with the public distribution system (PDS) hinting at a major scam.

The revelation, which has rattled the entire department, has reached the ministry which has marked an internal inquiry into the matter to identify the officials involved in it. It may be noted that to ensure maximum benefit of various schemes of the department and easy distribution of the ration the Aadhaar cards were linked to the PDS.

The decision, however, backfired in many blocks, including Tawdu, where such fraudulent Aadhaar cards were linked to the PDS system to misuse the ration items.

“The issue has been brought to the notice of all high-ups concerned and we are checking the records to find whether it was just a mistake or an intentional blunder,” said a senior official.

“Tawdu is not the sole case in Mewat. In fact, there are around 13 lakh such fraudulent cards in the entire state but the ministry concerned is sitting quiet. Those eligible are getting the benefit of the scheme and ration meant for them. We want a thorough inquiry and punishment for all those responsible for it, besides a better mechanism to make the system fullproof,” said senior Congress leader Aftab Ahmed.

“We cannot say these are fraudulent linking but we can say wrong Aadhaar card numbers have been put in the system. It may be a clerical mistake or mistake of data entry operators and we are looking into it. All beneficiaries of the block are genuine,” said Surender Saini, Food and Supplies Controller, Mewat.