The Special Task Force (STF) of Uttarakhand Police, in coordination with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), Ministry of Home Affairs, has arrested one accused for running a large-scale racket involving the activation and illegal sale of fake mobile SIM cards. These SIMs were allegedly used for cyber fraud and may have been sold to individuals in Nepal.
Fake SIM Cards Issued Using Local Identities
Acting on specific intelligence provided by the DoT and I4C, the STF discovered that the accused, Raghuveer Singh Karki (30) of Pithoragarh district, was running a mobile shop—RK Electronics & Mobile Centre—in Nayabazar, Berinag. He was allegedly activating multiple SIM cards using forged documents and the Aadhaar credentials of innocent local residents. The activated SIMs were then either sold illegally or ported to other telecom providers for further exploitation.
During the raid, the police recovered:
- 748 pre-activated Vodafone-Idea (Vi) SIM cards
- 12 Aadhaar cards
- 5 mobile phones
- Multiple PAN cards
There is strong suspicion that some of these SIMs were trafficked across the India-Nepal border and used in cross-border financial and cybercrimes.
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Telecom Data Reveals Fraud Scale and Modus Operandi
The STF, with help from telecom companies, analysed the SIM activation data, which showed a high volume of activations under different names. The accused reportedly lured locals with offers of free recharges or monetary benefits in exchange for their ID documents. These were later misused to activate SIM cards, sometimes by overriding biometric verifications.
Officials also stated that the SIMs were frequently ported between telecom providers to avoid detection. Many of the unsuspecting individuals whose IDs were misused had no knowledge of the SIM cards issued in their names.
The FIR against Raghuveer Singh Karki was filed at Berinag Police Station under:
- Sections 3(5), 318(4), 61(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023
- Section 42 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023
Multi-Agency Operation and Public Advisory
Senior Superintendent of Police (STF) Navneet Singh confirmed that the operation was carried out following high-level coordination among several officers and cybercrime units. Additional support was provided by:
- Director, Telecom Department (UP West) Sunil Bhadu
- Assistant Director Praveen Jain
- Director, Telecom Department (Uttarakhand) Love Gupta
- I4C’s Deputy Director Munesh Dutt and analyst Rushi Mehta
- AI and Digital Intelligence Director Naveen Jakhad (Telecom HQ, Delhi)
The field operation was led by Dy SP Ankush Mishra, whose deep understanding of cybercrime patterns, and close coordination with central telecom and cybersecurity agencies played a critical role in unearthing the racket.
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The STF has appealed to the public to:
- Report suspicious SIM sellers and PoS agents
- Regularly verify issued SIMs via TAFCOP service of the DoT
- Report suspicious or unused SIMs for immediate deactivation
- Dial 1930 in case of any financial cybercrime
This operation sheds light on how cybercriminals exploit local communities and identity data for illicit gains, sometimes even for cross-border activities. The STF reiterated its commitment to zero-tolerance against cybercrime and urged citizens to stay vigilant.
For awareness and prevention tips, the public is also encouraged to use platforms like Sanchar Saathi and TAFCOP.
“Every citizen must ensure their identity is not being misused. Reporting suspicious activity is the first line of defence against cyber fraud,” said SSP Navneet Singh.