Seven held for hacking online passport software

HYDERABAD - Seven people were arrested here for hacking the online passport application software of the Hyderabad regional passport office, police said Friday.

Police Commissioner A.K. Khan told reporters that seven people, who included passport agents, were arrested and search was on for two others involved in the racket.

The accused, who hacked the online software a week ago, were using it to book slots for registration of passport applications.

The passport officials, who grew suspicious at some agents managing to get many slots, informed the police.

The police commissioner’s Task Force took up the inquiry. Police arrested main accused Latadhar Rao in Guntur. Several computers and hard disks have been seized from the accused.

The police chief said they were on the lookout for two other accused.

The gang was busted a day after the police commissioner announced setting up of a special police station to deal with cyber crimes.

Over 100,000 applications are pending in the passport office here. There have been allegations of corruption with alleged collusion between employees and agents leading to inordinate delays in getting the passports.

Last month, the passport office authorised 96 agents to receive applications for police clearance certificate and other miscellaneous services offered by it.

Each agent was allowed to receive four applications for police clearance certificate and miscellaneous services and five applications for fresh passports and renewals every day.