Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad’s Nagpada unit arrested a man on Tuesday for running an illegal telephone exchange following a tip-off. The authorities found and confiscated four SIM boxes from the man’s house in Dongri.
The suspect, identified as 32-year-old Riyas Mohammad PK, allegedly routed international calls on domestic mobile numbers using the SIM boxes. A SIM box veils an international call as a domestic number. Of the four SIM boxes recovered, authorities found 149 Airtel SIM cards.
Cash worth Rs 5 lakh recovered
Upon searching Mohammad’s house, officials from the Department of Telecommunications (DOT) recovered Rs 5 lakh 71 thousand in cash. The suspect was subsequently arrested.
Mohammad, along with his accomplice from Bangladesh, ran the illegal telephone exchange at his rented house in a bid to earn fast money. He routed the international calls on Indian mobile numbers, thus duping the Indian government’s telecom department.
The suspect has been booked under multiple sections of Indian Penal Code, including Section 420 at Dongri Police Station. An investigation has been launched in the case.
