Government sets up SIT to probe data theft

Hyderabad: State government on Wednesday constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the data theft case involving an IT firm which provides services to Telugu Desam Party (TDP). To be headed by Inspector General of Police (West Zone) Stephen Ravindra, the nine-member SIT will take up the case registered against IT Grids for allegedly misusing the sensitive data of the citizens of Andhra Pradesh.

The Home Department, in its order, said that the SIT was constituted since the case requires expertise in investigation of cybercrimes involving various technologies and the probe has to be conducted in different places other than Cyberabad.

A case under various sections of Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act was registered against the Hyderabad-based firm at Madhapur police station under Cyberabad police Commissionerate on March 2. Principal Secretary, Home, Rajiv Trivedi issued orders in this regard.

Apart from Stephen Ravindra, SIT team comprises eight police officers N Swetha, Superintendent of Police, Kamareddy District, Rohini Priyadarshini, DCP Crimes, Cyberabad, G Sridhar, S D P O,  Narayanpet, B Ravi Kumar Reddy, DSP, Cybercrimes, Cyberabad, N Shyam Prasad Rao, ACP, Madhapur, Ch Y Srinivas, ACP, Cyberabad crimes, B Ramesh, Inspector of Police, CCS Cybercrimes, and G Venkat Rami Reddy, Inspector of Police, CCS Cybercrimes.
    
The Cybercrime police stations of Hyderabad, Cyberabad, Rachakonda and CID are directed to extend all possible assistance to the SIT. The case was registered based on a complaint by  T Lokeswara Reddy, resident of KPHB, stating that the sensitive data of individuals, including personal information, Aadhar, voter ID, electoral rolls, beneficiary details of the government schemes, etc. was possessed by the IT Grids without the consent of the individuals concerned.

 Later a case was filed by G Dasharatha Rami Reddy, a resident of Yousufguda under SR Nagar police station, stating that IT Grids company, had collected the data relating to voters and resorted to attempt to delete the names of some voters.