By News Karnataka
Copyright newskarnataka
Lucknow — In a startling revelation, investigators have uncovered that six impostors simultaneously worked in different districts of Uttar Pradesh’s health department for nearly nine years, all using the same identity — Arpit Singh, son of Harendra Singh, born on 1 January 1990. Each was posted as an X-ray technician and drew a monthly salary of Rs 69,595, with the total fraud estimated at Rs 4.5 crore.
The elaborate scam came to light during an online verification drive through the Manav Sampada portal, which cross-checked service records with Aadhaar data. The system flagged multiple employees with identical credentials, leading to a deeper probe.
How the scam worked
In 2016, the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC) selected 403 candidates for X-ray technician posts. Among them was the genuine Arpit Singh from Agra, listed at serial number 80. Investigators believe that his original appointment letter was cloned, enabling six impostors to join service in other districts over the years.
Armed with forged Aadhaar cards and manipulated appointment letters, the impostors spread across six districts — Balrampur, Farrukhabad, Banda, Rampur, Amroha, and Shamli. While the genuine Arpit continued serving in Agra, the impersonators drew salaries without raising suspicion for years.
The complaint and police case
The fraud came under official scrutiny when Dr Ranjana Khare, Director (Paramedical), lodged a complaint at Wazirganj police station in Lucknow. An FIR was registered on Monday under multiple IPC sections, including:
419: Cheating by impersonation
420: Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property
467: Forgery of valuable security
468: Forgery for cheating
471: Using forged documents as genuine
DCP (West Zone) Vishwajeet Srivastava confirmed that service files and joining letters from all six districts are being collected to verify how the impostors managed to bypass recruitment checks.
Investigators face hurdles
Officials admit that recovering the siphoned salaries will be difficult as the impostors have absconded, locking their residences and switching off phones. The Health Department is now trying to trace their bank accounts and posting histories. The fraud has also raised concerns about weak verification systems and loopholes in state recruitment processes.
Political flashpoint
The revelation has triggered a political war of words. The recruitment, conducted under the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP) government, is now under sharp scrutiny. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the previous government of negligence, while the Opposition has countered that the scam reflects systemic lapses that persisted for years.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed Deputy CM and Health Minister Brajesh Pathak to ensure strict action against those involved. “No one will be spared in this case. Accountability will be fixed at every level,” Pathak said.
Larger questions on accountability
The scam raises troubling questions about the oversight of payroll systems and the ease with which forged documents can be used to enter government service. Experts warn that such impersonation schemes undermine public trust in healthcare delivery and drain taxpayer money.
The “six Arpits” scandal is being seen as one of the most brazen payroll frauds in the UP health department in recent years. While investigators attempt to track down the impostors and recover funds, the case has already sparked calls for stronger digital verification measures and accountability across the state’s recruitment processes.
