STF nabs key member of Ayushman fraud racket

Lucknow: UP Special Task Force arrested key operative of an organised cyber fraud syndicate for creating thousands of fake Ayushman Bharat cards for ineligible beneficiaries, leading to significant loss to govt.Chak Sheru alias Abhishek alias Ajay, 25, BSc graduate from Hardoi residing in Lucknow, was arrested on Jun 2 from Budheshwar under Para police limits. The arrest was made by a joint team of STF cyber unit and Lucknow Cyber Crime police who recovered a laptop, CPUs, monitor, thumb scanner, webcam and printer, a mobile phone, identity documents, forged Ayushman records, a seal, and Rs 1,320 in cash.Additional SP, STF, Vishal Vikram Singh, said the gang used an illegal portal to bypass Aadhaar-based OTP verification, enabling them to include ineligible individuals’ names in legitimate beneficiary families.“OTPs were sent to the new applicant instead of the family head and the fraudulent entries were approved of with the help of insiders linked to Implementation Support Agencies and State Health Agency,” said ASP Singh. The accused confessed to joining the network in 2025 and processed five to six fake cards daily, generating 1,500 cards in a year. Police said many cards were used to avail free treatment.