Delhi Link To Data Theft In Telugu States

Amaravati: Fresh facts have come to light in the massive data breach case involving personal information of voters of both the Telugu states to the extent of 7.82 crore citizens.

The theft of personal information has been described as the biggest ever in the country by the UIDAI authorities. It is learnt that the data theft was planned as early as four years ago in a systematic manner, according to media reports.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu appointed senior UIDAI official J Satyanarayana as the state government’s advisor on e-governance and IT as part of his strategy, media reports stated.

The plot, it is learned is to have the personal data of the entire voter base in the hands of the TDP aiming at the 2019 elections. Reports suggest that Chandrababu Naidu was advised against appointing the UIDAI official because it involved a conflict of interest, but the Andhra Pradesh chief minister reportedly overruled the objections.

The Andhra Pradesh government conducted a survey to collect personal data of citizens in 2016. This was integrated into what was described as real-time good governance.

As it turned out, it was this data which later went into the hands of IT Grids India Pvt Ltd, the company tasked with the responsibility of developing seva mitra app for TDP. Since the AP government did not possess information related to Telangana citizens, it is learned that the data was procured from UIDAI from Delhi itself.

The reports further suggest that UIDAI co-operated with the ruling party in Andhra Pradesh in this respect, resulting in data of 7.82 crore citizens passing into the hands of the party.

This data base of personal information included names, addresses, bank account details, voter IDs, driving license, pan card and particulars with respect to family members. This complete data base was mined by the TDP through IT Grids India Pvt Ltd which developed the seva mitra app.

The data breach case has caught the attention of authorities all over the country, including cyber experts and defence and national security officials and organizations.

The higher-ups in defence and the home department are said to be concerned about the matter also because the data consisted of a range of details related to armed forces personnel.

This has lent a sensitive dimension to the data theft case as it poses a threat to national security, as is being perceived by the Centre. The Centre said to be viewing this with seriousness and concern with the possibility of this cache of information passing into the hands of enemy nations.

The data theft case highlights the violation of the Aadhaar act passed by the parliament. With such a massive compromise involving the state government itself, experts say.

The Supreme Court is also seized of the matter of data breach relating to individuals and under such circumstances, this theft of data on an unprecedented scale by a private entity has come under the scrutiny of central agencies, it is learned.

The government is also determined to identify those in the UIDAI who could have been responsible for this breach of personal information. In this context, the UIDAI has lodged a complaint with the Hyderabad police and is also conducting an internal inquiry into the matter.

The Union Home Ministry, it is learned is determined to bring the culprits in this sordid episode to book. It is learned that more details would be revealed in the next few days.

Also Read: Sensational Facts Emerge In IT Grids Data Theft Case