'Question Of National Security,' Nearly 100 Aadhaar-Related FIRs Brought To UIDAI's Notice: Report

Authentication frauds, forgery, unauthorised access, and tampering, they said, are among the cases.

Representational Image. (Source: Getty Images)

New Delhi: While roughly a hundred police complaints relating to Aadhaar numbers were brought to the attention of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) between 2018 and 2021, a considerably greater number of incidents went unreported, according to authorities acquainted with the subject, HT reported.

They include Aadhaar numbers being compromised, Pakistani citizens obtaining the unique numbers meant only for residents of India, and authentication frauds, forgery, unauthorised access, and tampering.

“This, however, is just the tip of the iceberg. For every FIR (first information report) filed, there will be hundreds of cases that have not been reported,” an official was quoted by HT in its report. 

The authority does not usually file police complaints, but it can be contacted for assistance if law enforcement needs it to speed up investigations.

While seeking anonymity, an official informed HT, "Aadhaar is an identity and, hence, there have to be stricter safeguards to ensure its security. This is a question of national security.”

What Is Aadhaar Number?

Aadhaar is a 12-digit number that connects an individual's biometric data to create a unique identity. A person's bank account, phone number, government programmes, and other financial services are all connected to their Aadhaar number.

Union Govt Claims Aadhaar System Has Never Been Compromised 

The government has been concerned about the security and vulnerability of Aadhaar. Aadhaar numbers have been compromised, according to reports.

However, the Union government claims that the Aadhaar system has never been compromised.

“I would like to convey to this House that the data of the UIDAI is completely safe. We do six crore authentications everyday and till now… we have done 1,500 crore authentications of Aadhaar,” former electronics and information technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad informed Parliament earlier.

There have been instances of attempted unauthorised access to the authentication system, according to the ministry that oversees UIDAI.

“In all such cases, FIRs have been lodged for unauthorized authentication cases. UIDAI has a strong and rigorous process of identifying such types of cases and ensuring that these are reported to the concerned law enforcement agencies for necessary action,” the ministry said.

According to statistics kept by the National Payments Corporation of India, a total of 4,088 similar incidents have been discovered. From 497 in 2019-20 to 1,200 in 2020-21 and 2,391 in 2021-22, the number increased dramatically. The total number of transactions increased from 1,370 to 3,755 and 8,739, respectively.

It's possible that the approach was used to syphon out a total of 101 million dollars.