Bareilly Police have arrested five people for allegedly creating fraudulent Ayushman Bharat cards for ineligible beneficiaries by manipulating Aadhaar and ration card details and charging thousands of rupees in return. Police said the accused allegedly collected between ₹35,000 and ₹40,000 from individuals and altered identity details to enable access to treatment benefits under the government health scheme.
The case was uncovered after Harprasad, a resident of the Nawabganj area, took his daughter to AIIMS Rishikesh for treatment. According to police, Abid and his associates had allegedly taken ₹47,000 from Harprasad and manipulated Aadhaar details belonging to him and his daughter to prepare an Ayushman card.
The alleged irregularity came to light when the card was checked at the hospital and treatment could not proceed. Harprasad reportedly sought the return of his money but was turned away, following which the matter reached the police and a case was registered at Bhojipura Police Station.
Aadhaar and Ration Card Details Allegedly Manipulated
Police said the accused allegedly approached people who were not eligible for benefits under the Ayushman Bharat scheme and offered to arrange cards that could be used for free treatment of up to ₹5 lakh.
Investigators alleged that Aadhaar and ration card details were manipulated by changing names and addresses before fraudulent Ayushman cards were generated. In return, the accused allegedly collected around ₹35,000 to ₹40,000 from each person.
Police said the cards were allegedly intended for use at hospitals in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Investigators are examining how many such cards may have been created and how many people might have used them for treatment.
The alleged operation was not limited to collecting money for preparing cards. Police are also examining claims that some ineligible beneficiaries received treatment at hospitals using such cards, allowing payments to be claimed under the Ayushman scheme while the accused separately collected money from the individuals.
On this basis, police have added Section 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita to the case, treating the alleged activity as organised crime.
Hospital Staff Links and Sambhal Connection Under Probe
Police said the investigation is also examining allegations of possible involvement by hospital staff. The FIR refers to individuals named Nitin and Naresh, along with some unidentified persons allegedly associated with hospitals.
During interrogation, the arrested accused allegedly told police that ineligible people had received treatment with assistance from hospital staff. Police have said these claims remain under investigation and the role of the individuals concerned will be established only after further inquiry.
The accused also allegedly referred to a person named Naresh, described as a resident of Moradabad who works in the Sambhal Chief Medical Officer’s office. Police are now examining the alleged connection and any wider network that may have assisted in processing the documents.
According to the police account, the alleged operation did not require an elaborate physical setup. Aadhaar, ration card and Ayushman-related work was allegedly processed through mobile applications and online portals, while printed copies were obtained from shops.
Seven mobile phones have been recovered from the accused and are being examined for possible links to other beneficiaries, associates and transactions.
Seven Phones, Fake Cards and Documents Recovered
Police said they received information that the accused were present near a tubewell on the road leading towards Prahladpur behind SRMS College and Bhojipura Hospital. A raid was conducted at around 7:58 am on Wednesday.
Five men identified as Abid, Salman, Armaan, Afroz and Deshratna were arrested. Police said other people present at the location managed to escape.
During searches, police recovered seven mobile phones, 13 allegedly forged Ayushman cards, six coded Aadhaar cards, 22 allegedly forged photocopies of ration cards and ₹2,700 in cash.
Action has been initiated against the five accused under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including sections relating to cheating and conspiracy.
Investigators are now trying to determine how many ineligible people obtained Ayushman cards through the alleged network, how much money was collected, which hospitals accepted the cards and how much money may have been paid from the government scheme in connection with such treatment.
Police records also show previous cases against Abid. According to the information cited in the report, cases relating to theft, seizure and fraud were registered against him at Prem Nagar Police Station in 2021, while an Arms Act case was registered at Bhojipura Police Station in 2022. Including the present case, police records cited in the report show three cases against him.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
