CBI Arrests Three in Assam Over Illegal SIM Card Racket

Quick Summary

• The Central bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested three individuals in Cachar district, Assam, for their role in the sale of unauthorised SIM cards used in cybercrimes.
• those arrested included Debasish Doley, a territorial sales manager of a private telecom company, and two middlemen, Mahim Uddin Barbhuiya and ashim Purkayastha.
• CBI discovered that SIM cards were illegally issued without the knowledge of people whose identities were used. These cards were then bulk-sold to middlemen at high costs.
• The unauthorised SIM cards facilitated various cybercrimes such as impersonation scams, digital arrest frauds, fraudulent advertisements, investment schemes, and UPI-related frauds.
• Following searches at five locations in Silchar town within Cachar district, remand was obtained for further investigation into the suspects’ operations.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The arrests underscore the growing nexus between telecom sales malpractice and cybercrime activities across India. With critical personal data being exploited through unauthorised issuance of SIM cards tied to fraud schemes like UPI-related scams or impersonation crimes, there are concerns over gaps in regulatory oversight within private telecom companies’ sales channels.This case highlights vulnerabilities that pose risks to citizens as technology-driven crimes become increasingly sophisticated.

Strengthened measures enforcing compliance on identity verification during SIM card issuances could prevent misuse by criminal groups exploiting distribution networks for illegal activity. Collaboration between law enforcement agencies like CBI and private telecom firms may be crucial not just for damage control but also for safeguarding digital infrastructure integrity long-term.Read more