Days after an investigative report in The Tribune revealed a racket via which a journalist was able to gain access to the Aadhaar database of a billion Indians for just Rs 500, an FIR has been filed against The Tribune as well as its reporter Rachna Khaira by a deputy director of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
Minister for Law & Justice and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad reacted to the UIDAI’s FIR with a tweet. Prasad defended the government saying that they are fully committed to freedom of press as well as maintaining security of the Aadhaar.
Prasad also urged the UIDAI to ask The Tribune to give them assistance in further investigations to get to the real offenders.
The UIDAI on Sunday released a statement saying that it takes every criminal violation seriously, and “unauthorised access” by The Tribune and its journalist is what invited the criminal proceedings that have been initiated against them.
The statement said that it respects freedom of speech and the media, and that the FIR shouldn’t be viewed as “shooting the messenger.”
The complaint in the case came from BM Patnaik, working in the UIDAI's logistics and grievance redressal department.
However, on 6 December, the Chandigarh regional office of UIDAI – in a letter written to the editor-in-chief of The Tribune – sought certain details pertaining to the report that revealed the breach.
UIDAI had initially released a statement after The Tribune report was published.
The Aadhaar data including biometric information is fully safe and secure. UIDAI maintains complete log and traceability of the facility and any misuse can be traced and appropriate action taken. Legal action including lodging of FIR against the persons involved in the present case being done.UIDAI statement
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