The Central Crime Branch of Bengaluru Police has uncovered an advanced illegal SIM box operation used to convert international calls into local calls, a practice often linked to cybercrime. This marks the second such crackdown in just two weeks, following the earlier arrest of two individuals in a separate case.
The investigation began on August 2 after Anil Kumar, representing a telecom operator in Domlur, filed a complaint based on information from the Department of Telecommunications. The DoT had flagged suspicious activity involving a SIM box setup suspected of aiding cybercriminal activities.
A SIM box is a device loaded with multiple SIM cards that reroutes international calls through local networks, bypassing authorised telecom gateways. This causes significant revenue losses to service providers and the government while posing serious national security concerns.
The DoT traced the operation to the International Tech Park in Whitefield, Bengaluru. Internal checks revealed that 107 SIM cards, all registered under Gleam Global Services India Private Limited, were being misused. Investigators found these SIMs installed in SIM boxes located at the Iron Mountain Data Centre in Whitefield.
Police took into custody Chota Ahammed Mubaraq, also known as Tufail, a 37-year-old engineering graduate from Tamil Nadu living in Kothanur, Bengaluru. Already in prison for another cyber fraud case, Tufail allegedly admitted to setting up the SIM box system on instructions from two associates based overseas. Authorities are now preparing to issue Look Out Circulars for these foreign suspects.
During a Police raid at the data centre, police seized six SIM boxes, 133 SIM cards, 12 data storage servers, one networking router or switch, and other related equipment worth around ₹10 lakh. Investigators believe the SIM cards were used in multiple online fraud operations.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh has urged data centre operators to verify client backgrounds thoroughly before leasing space. Police officials stressed that illegal telecom setups not only defraud the system but also help criminal networks operate anonymously, making it harder to trace cyber fraud.
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