New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches at 42 locations across eight states and arrested five individuals for their involvement in the illegal sale of SIM cards allegedly used in digital scams, officials reported on Saturday.
The searches were part of Operation Chakra V, a mission aimed at combating cybercrimes and frauds related to digital scams.
Raids were carried out at the premises of various point-of-sale agents of telecom operators in Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, according to a CBI spokesperson.
CBI Conducts Searches at 42 locations in 08 states and arrests 05 under ongoing Operation Chakra –V against Transnational Organised Cybercrime/Digital Arrest and to Crackdown on sales of unauthorized SIM cards used in Cybercrime pic.twitter.com/1YzR9nwtc7
— Central Bureau of Investigation (India) (@CBIHeadquarters) May 10, 2025
These agents were suspected of collaborating with cybercriminals and unidentified telecom service provider executives to distribute SIM cards used in offenses like digital scams, impersonation, fraudulent advertisements, investment frauds, and UPI frauds.
“The searches resulted in the seizure of incriminating documents and articles, including mobile phones, electronic devices, copies of KYC documents, and the identification of individuals, including middlemen involved in the distribution of unauthorized SIM cards. Additionally, movable property acquired from the proceeds of crime was seized,” the spokesperson stated.
Five individuals were arrested from four states for their alleged involvement in the unauthorized issuance of SIM cards in violation of KYC norms, the agency confirmed.
