Ration shop owners misused over 800 Aadhaar cards for more than 1.80 lakh times to splurge on tonnes of food meant for the poor (Picture for representation)

After a large-scale corruption surfaced in the Public Distribution System (PDS), Samajwadi Party slammed the Yogi Adityanath government over the scam.

Taking a jibe at UP CM, SP spokesperson Sunil Yadav said, "The Prime Minister said that if one rupee is given by the government for developmental scheme then the entire money is being spent but what's happening in UP clear shows that Yogi Adityanath is not interested in listening to the PM. The corruption is rising in this government and poor people are being exploited."

It was found out that ration shop owners misused over 800 Aadhaar cards for more than 1.80 lakh times in at least 42 districts of the state to splurge on tonnes of food meant for the poor.

The ration shop owners used to feed the Aadhaar details of beneficiaries with people whom they wanted to sell ration at an inflated rate in the electronic point of sale devices. That is how they earned more profit.

The food supply department came to know about this scam when the beneficiaries had complaint in large number about not getting ration from these shops.

The investigation has also revealed that after conducting transaction from unregistered Aadhaar card the shop owners used to restore the original data so that the corruption done by them cannot be easily detected.

The investigation has revealed that as many as 107 Aadhaar cards were used 37,574 times in Allahabad, 108 Aadhaar cards used 27,324 times in Meerut and 64 cards were used for 19,795 times in Muzaffarnagar to deprive the rights of beneficiaries.

At least 69 cards for 16568 times were used in Ghaziabad. Frauds have also been reported from Noida, Varanasi, Raebareli and other districts of Uttar Pradesh as well.

Speaking to India Today, ADM civil supply of the Allahabad district Amar Pal Singh said, "A case has been filed at the Khuldabad police station against shop owners involved and 107 Aadhaar numbers. Strict action will be taken against those who have conducted such frauds."

The food supply officer of Muzaffarnagar district Sunil Kumar Pushkar said, "64 fake Aadhaar cards were used to do transactions for more than 19700 times. Ration shop owners as well as computer operatore are involved in this scam. We are also investigating the role of government employees. Action will be taken against everyone."

UP minister of food security Atul Garg told India Today, "More than 400 cases have been registered so far and we are going to take action against more people after investigation. This is a serious issue which has been exposed by our officers. We will take action against every person who is involved in this scam. No one will be spared. However, the final figure of Aadhaar cards used and fraud done is still being ascertained."

Also read: Corruption in PDS distribution of ration in UP, probe ordered