The CBI on Friday (March 27, 2026) arrested two persons who allegedly set up a company to buy bulk SIM cards and facilitate SIM Box operations for cyber fraud. | Photo credit: PTI
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday (March 27, 2026) arrested two persons who allegedly set up a company that procured bulk SIM cards and facilitated SIM box operations for cyber fraud.
The accused named Mohammed Vival and Mohammed Dilshad were picked up from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. The case involves the misuse of bulk SIM cards deployed through a hardware device called a SIM Box.
The agency previously found that 108 SIM cards were purchased on behalf of a company founded in January 2025, allegedly for employee needs. However, citizens later flagged them on the National Cyber Reporting and Chakshu portals for their use in fraudulent activities, including impersonating law enforcement agencies and government officials.
“Victims said they were tricked into transferring money following such calls, which usually serve as the initial step in cyber fraud schemes. After extensive technical analysis and coordinated field operations, two key accused were arrested from Meerut,” the CBI said, saying they were company directors.
The agency conducted searches at six locations in Meerut and Noida, including premises associated with the accused persons, their associates involved in setting up SIM Box infrastructure, a zonal office of a telecom service provider and an employee of a private entity responsible for verification processes related to bulk SIM issuance.
“During the searches, investigators seized various electronic devices, including laptops, hard drives and mobile phones, along with incriminating documents and SIM cards, including one foreign (Nepalese) SIM card,” the agency said.
Published – 28 Mar 2026 04:02 IST
