Pramesh S Jain
Officials of the Cyber Command Unit has detected two more illegal SIM box farm sites in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruchirappalli and Thanjavur districts as part of its investigation into an interstate SIM box network registered at Whitefield Police Station.
The breakthrough follows a technical investigation into the illegal SIM box network,with investigators seizing a total of 10 eSIM-enabled SIM box devices from two locations in Bengaluru—Kadugodi and Pattandur Agrahara last week—where the equipment was allegedly being operated.
The Whitefield cyber crime police have busted the racket and the arrest of four people in connection with an alleged illegal SIM box network operating from two apartments in Whitefield.
Whitefield Cyber Crime Police Station (CCPS) has unearthed two SIM box centres operating from separate apartments in Kadugodi and Pattandur Agrahara and seized 10 GSM gateway devices with a combined capacity of 320 SIM connections.
The operation was conducted in coordination with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT),Karnataka. Investigators found that six SIM box devices,each with 32 SIM slots, were operating in Kadugodi, accommodating 192 SIM connections. Four similar devices,with a combined capacity of 128 SIM connections,were seized from Pattandur Agrahara.
The preliminary investigation revealed that both centres were established and operated by the same accused network.
The electronic devices allegedly facilitated communications and other activities linked to cybercrime operations.
Following the seizure,investigators conducted a detailed technical analysis of the devices, telecommunications records and related digital evidence to determine whether the network’s operations were confined to Bengaluru or extended to other locations.
The analysis generated leads pointing to Tiruchirappalli and Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu.
The findings were shared with the Department of Telecommunications,and coordinated interdepartmental action led to the detection of two additional SIM box farm sites.
Focus on dismantling the wider network :
The investigation is now focused on tracing the entire operational chain of the network across the country. This includes establishing how the SIM box and farm devices were procured and deployed, identifying the SIM cards and eSIM profiles used, examining the telecommunications infrastructure involved,and identifying individuals who facilitated or controlled the operations.
Police are also working to establish the links between the Bengaluru and Tamil Nadu locations,identify overseas handlers and their local facilitators,and trace any additional sites or infrastructure connected to the network.
Pronab Mohanty,Director General of Police,Cyber Command,Bengaluru,said the investigation was aimed at uncovering the wider network and tracing its operational links he added.
