Raipur, September 21, 2026: Cybercrime investigations have brought to light recently some instances in which a Point of Sale (PoS) agent in Chhattisgarh was found to have illegally activated 25 mobile connections (SIMs) using citizens’ identification documents without their knowledge or consent.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh circle has taken firm action against the fraudulent SIM issuance, Communication Ministry said today.
Following this, the DoT and Telecom Service Providers immediately blacklisted the concerned PoS, preventing it from issuing mobile connections (SIMs) in the future. These 25 mobile connections were examined on the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) of the DoT, and those identified as suspicious were subjected to re-verification. Numbers failing re-verification were subsequently deactivated, it said.
The DoT has reiterates that fraudulent issuance of SIM cards, misuse of telecom identifiers, or tampering with IMEI numbers is a punishable offence under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. Such violations may attract imprisonment of up to three years and fines up to Rs 50 lakh. Compliance with the provisions of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the rules framed thereunder is essential for preventing telecom-related fraud, protecting citizens and ensuring a safe, secure and trusted telecommunication environment.
Citizens are cautioned not to share or transfer SIM cards issued in their name, as legal liability may extend to the original subscriber if the SIM is found to be misused. To safeguard themselves, citizens are advised to regularly verify their mobile connections through the Sanchar Saathi Portal (www.sancharsaathi.gov.in) and Mobile App, the statement said.
The platform enables users to check all mobile numbers issued in their name and block those that are unnecessary or not genuinely theirs. These measures are significant to prevent misuse of telecom resources in cyber frauds and to ensure a safe and secure communication environment.
With the rapid expansion of mobile connectivity and digital services across India, the misuse of SIMs, telecommunication identifiers, including the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number of mobile devices, has emerged as a matter of serious concern. Such misuse can compromise the safety of citizens and pose risks to the security and integrity of telecommunication networks. The Government of India has put in place stringent legal provisions to prevent tampering with and misuse of unique telecommunication identifiers.
