Odisha Police Uncover Extensive SIM Box Racket Spanning Multiple Cities

Odisha police have seized 17 SIM boxes and 678 operational SIM cards from Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, and Ranchi as part of a major SIM box racket. The racket, orchestrated by a Bangladeshi national, utilized these devices to mask international calls as local ones. Investigations are ongoing.

Odisha police have cracked a major SIM box racket, seizing 17 SIM boxes and 678 operational SIM cards from Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, and Ranchi. The operation, which has international connections, was orchestrated by a Bangladeshi national, Ashdur Jamman, who controlled the activities from Dhaka.

Bhubaneswar Police Commissioner Sanjeeb Panda revealed that the raids, prompted by information from an arrested suspect, Raju Mondal, led to the seizure of the SIM boxes and cards across various locations. Panda mentioned that these devices were used to mask international calls as local ones, typically for cybercrimes, terrorism, and other illegal activities.

Authorities have further interrogated Raju Mondal and plan to extend his remand for deeper investigation. The case has drawn the attention of national agencies, including the NIA and DoT, which are providing support in the ongoing probe. The exact nature of the racket's operations will be clearer after a thorough analysis of technical details and call records.

(With inputs from agencies.)