What appeared to be a modest business operating out of Northeast Delhi’s Chander Lok was allegedly the nerve centre of a nationwide cyber fraud syndicate. According to investigators, Lord Mahavira Services India Pvt. Ltd. (LMSIPL) functioned as a front for a sophisticated operation that sourced thousands of illegal SIM cards and routed them to cybercriminals across the country.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which busted the network in December, has alleged that the firm procured 20,986 illegal SIM cards over four years by violating guidelines issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). A majority of these connections were reportedly sourced from Vodafone Idea Ltd.
The agency arrested four individuals in connection with the case — a telecom channel partner, an area sales manager, and two others accused of facilitating fraudulent KYC verifications. All four have since been granted conditional bail by a Delhi court, which observed that investigation against them had been completed.
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What the CBI Has Alleged
According to the CBI, LMSIPL obtained bulk mobile connections by allegedly misrepresenting authorised signatories and end users. Thousands of SIM cards were issued under false credentials and later distributed to cyber fraudsters operating in different states.
These SIM cards were allegedly used to send phishing messages and make fraudulent calls, with callers impersonating officials from regulatory and government bodies to deceive unsuspecting victims.
The probe began after complaints were received through the DoT’s Chakshu portal. Of the 210 complaints flagged, 189 were linked to numbers associated with Mahavira Services, the agency told the court. Complainants reported financial losses amounting to lakhs of rupees due to fraudulent SMS messages and calls.
The CBI further claimed that during a re-verification exercise ordered by the DoT, over 5,800 flagged numbers were reviewed, and nearly 99% were declared “compliant” by the telecom company — a finding that raised suspicion within the investigating agency. Subsequently, a formal case was registered and a detailed probe initiated.
Technical Infrastructure and Seizures
During the investigation, the CBI detected the large-scale transmission of fraudulent SMS messages. It also noted signs of possible tampering with IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers — unique identifiers assigned to mobile devices.
The agency further indicated the possible use of SIM boxes — specialised devices capable of holding hundreds of SIM cards simultaneously. Such devices are often used to route international calls as local calls, thereby bypassing regulatory norms and telecom charges.
Searches were conducted at multiple locations in Delhi, Noida, and Chandigarh. The CBI said it seized servers, communication devices, USB hubs, dongles, and thousands of SIM cards. According to submissions made in court, the setup was allegedly being used to send lakhs of fraudulent messages daily. Investigators also recovered unaccounted cash and cryptocurrency during the raids.
Role of the Accused
- Sonveer Singh: Allegedly facilitated the issuance of over 7,000 SIM cards as a channel partner of Vodafone Idea by misrepresenting authorised signatories and end users.
- Manish Upreti and Himalaya Chauhan: Accused of arranging fake KYC verification processes to enable the fraudulent issuance of thousands of SIM cards.
- Binu Vidyadharan: Worked as an Area Sales Manager in Delhi and is alleged to have provided certain Aadhaar documents to a co-accused for completing self-KYC formalities.
The CBI has claimed that the four conspired with LMSIPL to facilitate phishing and cybercrime activities using illegally obtained SIM connections.
Court’s Observations
The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate at Rouse Avenue Court granted bail to the accused in separate orders, noting that the investigation concerning them had been completed and that continued detention was not warranted.
In one of the orders, the court observed that while cybercrime is a growing concern, the role of each accused must be assessed independently. The court also remarked that the element of criminal conspiracy was not prima facie evident to the extent suggested by the prosecution, based on the material placed before it at that stage.
Wider Implications
The CBI has stated that further investigation is underway to determine the geographical spread of the network and to identify systemic lapses, if any, in the bulk SIM issuance process. The agency is working in coordination with the DoT and telecom service providers to review verification protocols.
The case highlights serious concerns over KYC compliance, bulk SIM distribution mechanisms, and the evolving technological sophistication of cybercrime networks in India. Investigators now face the challenge of tracing the wider network of beneficiaries and ensuring tighter regulatory safeguards to prevent misuse of telecom infrastructure for financial fraud.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
