Bengaluru Police Bust Illegal Telephone Exchange Racket, Arrest Two

Rapid Summary

• The Central Crime Branch (CCB) busted an international illegal telephone racket on August 4 in Bengaluru.
• Two individuals, Fayaz MA (31) and Mohammed Saffaf (30), were arrested for converting international calls to local calls using a SIM box and mobile app.
• The duo, from Mallapuram, Kerala, reportedly operated the racket from a rented property in Immadihalli, Bengaluru for six months.
• They were allegedly earning around ₹5 lakh per month illegally and transferring crores of rupees to their handler in the Gulf through hawala transactions.
• Authorities seized 703 SIM cards and other equipment used in the operation during the raid conducted based on information provided by a private service provider and the Telecom Department.
• The illegal facility was said to benefit migrant laborers working in Gulf countries by enabling cheaper calls to their families.
• City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh stated that investigations are ongoing into the financial loss to India’s exchequer and also other crime angles.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The busting of this illegal telephone racket highlights both technological misuse and economic losses stemming from such operations. While enabling cost-effective communication for migrant workers may appear beneficial at first glance, these activities undermine lawful telecom revenue structures-potentially affecting government tax collections. Additionally, significant hawala transactions reveal broader concerns about financial irregularities tied to international handlers.With over 700 SIM cards discovered during this operation and more suspects anticipated to be involved, India’s law enforcement faces challenges in countering complex cross-border schemes driven by advancements in digital technology. Thorough investigations into both economic impacts and criminal networks will be crucial moving forward.

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