Prayagraj : In a significant breakthrough, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has busted a well-organized cybercrime syndicate involved in the large-scale issuance of fake Ayushman Bharat health scheme cards. Two key accused, identified as Amit Pandey (28) and Brijbhuvan Patel (48), were arrested from the Nawabganj bypass area in Prayagraj.
The accused were allegedly generating forged Ayushman Bharat cards using counterfeit documents in the names of ineligible individuals. According to STF officials, the gang’s mastermind Amit Pandey, along with his associate Brijbhuvan, were apprehended in a joint cyber operation led by Additional Superintendent of Police Shri Vishal Vikram Singh.
Items Seized:
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84 forged Ayushman Bharat cards
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112 data work records related to the scheme
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284 WhatsApp chat screenshots
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2 mobile phones
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1 ATM card, 1 Aadhaar card, 1 PAN card
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ID card of Praarchi Hospital, Prayagraj
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₹690 in cash
How the Fraud Was Uncovered:
The STF had been receiving intelligence for months regarding fraudulent cards being created and misused. Based on digital tracking, technical analysis, and tip-offs, the cyber cell zeroed in on the suspects and arrested them on June 17.
What the Mastermind Confessed:
During interrogation, Amit Pandey revealed that he originally obtained a CSC license under the Digital India Aatma Nirbhar Scheme in 2020-21 and initially issued genuine cards. However, after his license was suspended in 2022, he connected with Sunit Mandal from Patna through Facebook—an expert in fabricating Ayushman cards. Mandal charged ₹3,500–₹5,000 per card and added ineligible people into valid family units in the government database.
Amit claimed that he had sold around 200 fake cards across various UP districts through middlemen for ₹12,000–₹15,000 each.
Brijbhuvan’s Role:
Brijbhuvan confessed to collecting Aadhaar cards and money from clients at Amit’s behest. With Sunit’s help, the cards were generated and used for medical treatments, resulting in huge financial losses to the government. Over 200 ineligible people reportedly received medical services under the scheme using forged documents.
Legal Action:
A case has been registered at Nawabganj Police Station under FIR No. 279/2025, invoking multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — 3(5), 61(2), 318, 319, 338, 336(3), 340(2) — and provisions of the IT Act, including Sections 66C and 66D.
The STF is now on the lookout for other gang members, including Sunit Mandal, and is sending seized digital devices for forensic analysis.
