Police in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore have busted a cyber fraud network allegedly operating through the buying and selling of SIM cards. The investigation revealed that one SIM card was passed from its registered holder to several other people for money before eventually being used in cyber fraud. Police have arrested Rajesh Chaudhary, 42, in connection with the case and are searching for Bhagwandas alias Nana, Himanshu Junwal and Ashish Sharma.
How Did 151 SIM Cards Get Linked to 212 Fraud Complaints?
The case came to light during verification of suspicious data received from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre. Police found that 151 suspicious SIM cards linked to 49 point-of-sale holders and SIM-selling agents in the Indore urban area had been used in 212 financial fraud complaints registered across different states and cities.
Following the finding, investigators began examining the suspected numbers, their registered holders and the people involved in issuing and transferring the SIM cards.
During the investigation, one suspicious SIM was traced to Rohit Dalve, 27, a resident of Swarnbag Colony. During questioning, Dalve told investigators that he had issued the SIM on March 15, 2026, after completing the required document verification.
The SIM was issued in the name of Rajesh Chaudhary, 42, of Indore. Police subsequently questioned Chaudhary, leading investigators to uncover the chain through which the SIM allegedly changed hands.
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How Did One SIM Pass Through Multiple Hands?
According to police, Chaudhary had obtained the SIM using his Aadhaar card but later handed it over to Bhagwandas alias Nana for ₹200.
Bhagwandas allegedly passed the SIM to Himanshu Junwal for financial gain and received around ₹500 in return. Investigators found that Junwal subsequently handed the same SIM to Ashish Sharma, who allegedly used the number for cyber fraud.
The investigation therefore revealed a chain in which the SIM moved from its registered holder to several individuals in exchange for money before reaching the alleged fraudster.
Such repeated transfers can make it difficult for investigators to immediately establish the identity of the person actually operating a SIM during a cybercrime.
How Were Victims Allegedly Trapped With Clothing and Franchise Offers?
Investigators found that the suspicious number was allegedly used to contact people with offers of jeans and pants at wholesale prices.
The accused allegedly collected money from customers but failed to supply the promised goods. In another method, victims were allegedly offered franchises for wholesale clothing businesses and asked to make payments.
The case was also linked to a complaint filed by Anil Kumar Gupta, a resident of Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh. According to the complaint, the accused allegedly offered him a franchise for a wholesale jeans and pants business.
They allegedly demanded ₹30,000 for the franchise and collected ₹10,000 from him as part of the deal. However, neither the promised franchise nor the goods were provided. Gupta subsequently filed a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal on May 27, 2026.
Who Has Been Arrested and Who Is Still Being Searched For?
Based on the complaint and findings from the investigation, MIG police registered a case and initiated further action.
Rajesh Chaudhary has been arrested, while Bhagwandas alias Nana, Himanshu Junwal and Ashish Sharma remain absconding.
Police are now examining the roles allegedly played by each person in obtaining, transferring and ultimately using the SIM card.
Is There a Bigger SIM Network Behind the Cyber Frauds?
Investigators are examining whether the 151 suspicious SIM cards linked to 212 financial fraud complaints were operated by a single organised network or were being used by multiple cybercrime groups.
Police are also looking into the wider network involved in the transfer and misuse of SIM cards, including the role of point-of-sale holders and SIM-selling agents linked to the suspicious numbers.
The case highlights the risks associated with SIM cards being obtained in one person’s name and subsequently handed over to others for money. Users should never sell, rent or hand over SIM cards registered in their name, as misuse of the number in cybercrime can bring the registered subscriber under investigation while making it harder for police to identify the actual fraudster.
