In connection with the Odisha Crime Branch busting a pre-activated SIM card racket on May 1, the heads of BSNL and JIO in Dhenkanal and the commercial manager of Vodafone in Bhubaneswar have been served notices on Wednesday.
Crime Branch ADG Sanjeeb Panda informed this at a press conference today.
“The cyber cell of Odisha Crime Branch had seized over 19,000 pre-activated SIM cards in Dhenkanal district few days ago. In this connection, the CB has taken mastermind Dushmant Sahu and his two aides on a five-day remand and launched an investigation,” said Panda.
“Since most of the seized pre-activated SIM cards are of BSNL, JIO and Vodafone, the heads of BSNL and JIO in Dhenkanal and the commercial manager of Vodafone in Bhubaneswar have been served notices for interrogation. This apart, the SPs of all districts have been directed to collect intelligence on SIM card sellers in their respective districts and conduct raids on those who deal in fraud SIM cards,” added Panda.
“Dushmant had received Rs30 lakh through three Paytm accounts in two years. He had opened as many as seven accounts in his and his family members’ names,” informed Panda.
While the involvement of more persons in the racket can’t be ruled out, the investigating agency is on the job to find out the persons involved in Dushmant’s ‘Buyer Seller’ group.