A local court in Bhubaneswar has convicted seven people in an OTP-sharing racket linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence, holding them guilty of sharing one-time passwords with Pakistani handlers and facilitating cyber fraud and espionage activities.
The SDJM Court on Wednesday sentenced all seven to three years of rigorous imprisonment each and imposed a fine of Rs 32,000 on every convict.
Court Verdict and Sentences
The case was investigated by the Crime Branch Special Task Force, which described the operation as a serious threat to India’s internal security. The court based its verdict on statements from 11 witnesses along with documentary evidence placed on record.
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Among those convicted, five are from Odisha, one is from Assam and one is from Pune in Maharashtra. The seven were named as Pritam Kar, Saurav Kumar Nayak, Pathanisamant Lenka, Pradyumna Kumar Sahu, Soumya Patnaik, Mohammad Iqbal Hussain of Assam and Abhijit Sanjay Jambur of Pune. Judge Amit Kumar also said that failure to pay the fine would result in an additional term of imprisonment.
How the Racket Operated
The racket was spearheaded by Abhijit and Iqbal and involved the sharing of OTPs and fake activated SIM cards. These were allegedly used to facilitate cyber fraud operations in India and abroad.
The accused were said to be in direct contact with Pakistani intelligence officers Abdul Hameed and Rafi Khuram, who were alleged to have played a role in coordinating the illegal activity. The accused were allegedly earning between Rs 50,000 and Rs 60,000 a month by sharing sensitive information through WhatsApp, Telegram and Facebook.
Investigation and ISI Link
Special Public Prosecutor Rashmiranjan Brahma said the investigation found direct communication between the two main accused, Iqbal and Abhijit, and ISI agents, including people identified as Danish Ali and Abdul Hamid. The probe also involved assistance from Interpol, although no information was received from Pakistani authorities during the investigation.
The Crime Branch STF first registered the case on May 12, 2023 under Case No. 10/2023, and the accused were arrested in phases. The case has drawn attention to concerns around cyber espionage, the vulnerability of India’s digital infrastructure and the need for stronger measures against foreign-linked cyber threats.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
