Investigation reveals over 1,300 unauthorized SIMs used in nationwide cyber crimes

The CBI's forensic examination of the seized devices uncovered a trove of evidence pointing to a coordinated illegal SIM box operation. More than 1,300 SIM cards were found, many of which were linked to cyber‑crime incidents in at least 73 different cases.

Victims reported that SIM cards had been issued in their names without consent, either through fraudulent e‑KYC authorizations or by exploiting biometric data. The investigation, initially started by state police, was later handed over to the central agency for a deeper probe under multiple legal provisions, including the IT Act and the Telecom Regulation Act of 2022.