Bhubaneswar, 14 December (H.S.) : In a major crackdown on illegal SIM card operations, Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh Police, with assistance from Bhandaripokhari Police busted an illegal SIM card racket in Bhadrak district and arrested two persons in connection with the case.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Santosh Khandei , a mobile phone shop owner, and Maheswar Puntia, a resident of Tarago village under Bant Police Station limits. Both were produced before the Bhadrak court and subsequently taken to Delhi on transit remand for further investigation.

According to police, Santosh was operating a mobile phone shop at Manjuri Road Market under Bhandaripokhari police limits, where he allegedly activated multiple SIM cards using customers’ Aadhaar details without their knowledge. Investigators said that when a customer visited the shop to purchase a SIM card, several SIMs were activated simultaneously using the same Aadhaar credentials. While one SIM was handed over to the customer, the remaining pre-activated SIM cards were allegedly sold to unidentified buyers at higher prices.

During interrogation, Santosh reportedly disclosed the involvement of his associate Maheswar , leading to the latter’s arrest. Police said both accused were actively involved in the illegal sale of pre-activated SIM cards.

Further investigation revealed that several SIM cards sold through the racket were used in criminal activities in Delhi and other locations. The case came to light after an illegally activated SIM card was seized in connection with a case registered at Shaheen Bagh Police Station in Delhi (Case No. 403/25). Subsequent technical analysis and investigation traced the operation to Bhadrak.

The Shaheen Bagh Police, in coordination with the Cyber Cell of Delhi Police, are continuing the investigation to identify other links in the racket and trace the end users of the illegally activated SIM cards.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda