Police Probe Illegal SIM Box Operations Operating in Whitefield

Bengaluru police have launched an investigation into two separate complaints regarding suspected illegal SIM box and GSM gateway operations in and around Whitefield. Authorities have flagged the unauthorized use of telecommunications resources, warning of potential revenue leakage and the risk of such networks being exploited for unlawful activities.

According to officials, the first complaint involves an unauthorised SIM box setup that used Airtel SIM cards to route telecommunications traffic. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) initially alerted authorities on August 15. The Police Department subsequently shared information on August 25 detailing several Airtel SIM cards, including a specific mobile number, being operated through an unauthorised setup across the Whitefield and Kadugodi areas.

A SIM box is an electronic device that can house multiple SIM cards and route calls through them, potentially bypassing authorised international or standard telecom routing systems. Police stated that this operation could have caused significant financial losses to both the telecom service provider and the government through revenue leakage, while also constituting the unauthorised provision of telecom services.

The second complaint, also flagged by the Department of Telecommunications, centres on another suspected illegal SIM box and GSM gateway setup located in Whitefield. Investigators noted that this setup allegedly operated using a mobile number registered to an individual identified as Rahul Sharma of Rajasthan.

Police said the equipment was used to route international and VoIP calls as local traffic, a practice that enables fraud and results in telecom revenue losses. Cases have been registered in connection with both operations, and further investigations remain underway to identify the individuals managing the network.