Giving a tough challenge to the security system of the National Informatics Centre (NIC), the premier IT company of the Union Government, two computer operators who were engaged as date entry operators on contractual basis at the Koraput Regional Transport Office (RTO) tampered the password and breached into the Vahaan and Sarathi application software and misappropriated Government fund to the tune of Rs 11.69 lakh.
According to sources, the NIC provides software solution and applications to almost all Central Government and State Government Ministries and Departments and agencies. The security system of the NIC’s flagship application software for Transport Departments across the country is Vahaan and Sarathi which has been breached and hacked by two computer operators.
Sources also revealed that from 2009 to January 2013, at least 76 computerised money receipts were reportedly cancelled at the RTO, in which the password of Regional Transport Officer (RTO), Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) and Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) have been used.
However, NIC Senior Technical Director BK Panda said the NIC has now got the evidence as to how two data operators misused the system.
Following the incident, South Zone Transport Deputy Commissioner Basant Kumar Behera lodged an FIR at the Koraput town police station.