One man, six govt jobs — cloned identity scam exposed in UP

LUCKNOW: Can one person work in six different districts in the same department at the same time?

"Arpit Singh" did just that for nine years in Uttar Pradesh's health department. The astonishing scam was uncovered only after an online verification drive by UP govt's Manav Sampada portal flagged six impostors - all using the same name, father's name, and date of birth - drawing salaries of Rs 69,595 a month each as X-ray technicians across six districts.

Investigators now say the gang of impersonators, armed with forged Aadhaar cards and cloned appointment letters, siphoned off nearly Rs 4.5 crore from the health department's payrolls before vanishing.

Officials admit that recovering the salaries will be a nightmare as the impostors have absconded, locking their residences and switching off phones. An FIR was lodged on Monday. Investigators are now trying to unravel the modus operandi of the gang.

In 2016, UP Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC) selected 403 candidates for X-ray technician posts. Arpit Singh of Agra was one of them, listed at serial number 80. However, over time, six more "Arpits" joined service in other districts, each using forged Aadhaar details and appointment letters - cloned versions of the one belonging to the genuine Arpit in Agra.

The complaint, lodged by Dr Ranjana Khare, director (paramedical), at Wazirganj police station, named fake recruits posted in Balrampur, Farrukhabad, Banda, Rampur, Amroha, and Shamli.

Police have booked the accused under sections for cheating by impersonation (419), cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property (420), forgery of valuable security (467), forgery for cheating (468), and using forged documents as genuine (471).

DCP (West Zone) Vishwajeet Srivastava said service files and joining letters from all six districts are being collected. The recruitment conducted under the Akhilesh Yadav-led SP govt has now snowballed into a political flashpoint. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed deputy CM and health minister Brajesh Pathak to ensure strict action.