Youth held for issuing Aadhaar cards illegally

The Dehu Road Police has arrested a 20-year-old youth for issuing Aadhaar cards illegally. Rajesh Prasad, a resident of Rupee Nagar in Talwade who worked as a data entry operator with a Navi Mumbai-based company that has been awarded the contract of processing Aadhaar cards in Pimpri area used to issue cards to Kudalwadi Chikhali residents who didn't have the mandatory documents by charging Rs 300-Rs 500.

Rajendra Prasad was arrested for taking money for issuing Aadhaar card at Chikhali. Pic/Navnath Kaple

"After the working hours, he used to return to the office and process cards of people who didn't have proper documents by charging them," Satish Shinde, PSI of Dehu Road police station. Shinde added that the accused took Rs 300 if the applicant didn't have all the necessary documents, while he charged Rs 500 if the applicant didn't have any document.

"He used to tell people from the area to hurry up, as Aadhaar cards are mandatory to avail benefits offered by the government. When people came to him, he would tell them that if they didn't have complete documents, then too he'd help them by charging a meagre amount," said Shinde. Prasad, who has made around 20 such cards since January 17, has been booked under Section 384 and 420 of the IPC. He was produced before the court yesterday that remanded him to police custody till January 26.