Bhadrak: Bhadrak Police have busted an interstate and international SIM card trafficking racket allegedly involved in fraudulently activating SIM cards using forged identity documents of ordinary people and supplying them to cyber criminals in China and other states. One person has been arrested in connection with the case.
The arrested accused has been identified as Subhamjyoti Nayak (23), a resident of Raghunathpur under Bhandaripokhari police station limits.
The Bhadrak Cyber Crime and Economic Offences Police Station registered a case (No. 22/2026) under Sections 318(2), 318(4), 319(2), 338, 336(3) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act, and Section 42(3)(1) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, and launched an investigation.
During the investigation, police uncovered a network operating both within the country and abroad. The accused and his associates allegedly procured and activated SIM cards using forged documents in the names of unsuspecting individuals. The One-Time Passwords (OTPs) generated through these SIM cards were subsequently shared with cyber fraudsters based in China and other states through WhatsApp and Telegram.
Investigators found that the accused was allegedly using fake mobile phones and the identities of BSNL SIM activation agents to facilitate the operation. The racket was also dealing in cryptocurrency to conceal financial transactions, convert proceeds of cyber fraud into Indian currency and withdraw the money, police said.
During the operation, police seized 1,333 active SIM cards, 13 bank passbooks, four cheque books, one Union Bank ATM card, a Google Pay QR code, and cash amounting to Rs 11.73 lakh from the accused.
Two expensive mobile phones, six other mobile phones and a KTM motorcycle were also seized.
Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the network and trace the sources and destinations of the financial and cryptocurrency transactions, Bhadrak SP Manoj Rout said.
