Karnataka: Karnataka Cyber Command has dismantled a suspected illegal SIM box network operating from two apartments in Bengaluru’s Whitefield area, with investigators probing its alleged links to digital-arrest scams, sextortion and financial cyber fraud across India. Four people have been arrested in connection with the case.
The operation was conducted jointly by Whitefield cybercrime police and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Karnataka. According to Cyber Command Director General of Police Dr Pronab Mohanty, officials seized 10 SIM box devices from apartments in Kadugodi and Pattandur Agrahara on October 22.
The equipment had a combined capacity of 320 SIM connections. Six devices recovered from Kadugodi contained 192 SIM slots, while four devices seized from Pattandur Agrahara accounted for another 128. Investigators found that the connections had been configured using e-SIM profiles obtained from various telecom service providers.
Police said preliminary findings suggest that the network could be linked to financial exposure amounting to hundreds of crores of rupees. However, the full extent of the suspected fraud and the network’s alleged involvement in individual cases remains under investigation.
The case originated from a complaint filed by Bharti Airtel Limited’s Chief Circle Nodal Officer in Bengaluru, alleging unauthorised use of Airtel SIM cards. Based on the complaint, the Whitefield Cyber Crime Police Station registered a First Information Report (FIR) on August 26.
Investigators subsequently traced the suspected procurement and conversion of SIM cards into e-SIM profiles to Tiroda in Maharashtra’s Gondia district.
Four accused, all residents of Tiroda, have been arrested. Police suspect they were involved in procuring SIM cards and converting them into e-SIM profiles for operating the network.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the network’s suspected role in cybercrime operations targeting victims across the country.
