CBI arrest of telecom area sales manager over alleged bulk SIM issuance used in phishing

The Hindu
The Hindu
2h ago
The CBI arrested Vodafone area sales manager Binu Vidhyadharan in Delhi over alleged illegal procurement and fraudulent bulk issuance of SIM cards used in a phishing network.
CBI arrest of telecom area sales manager over alleged bulk SIM issuance used in phishing
A What happened
The CBI arrested Binu Vidhyadharan, identified as a Vodafone area sales manager in Delhi, for alleged illegal sale of SIM cards used in cybercrimes. The CBI said he procured around 21,000 SIM cards in violation of Department of Telecom rules to facilitate bulk SMS transmission used for phishing. The CBI said he arranged dummy individuals, falsely shown as employees of Lord Mahavira Services India Private Limited, and used their documents to complete KYC formalities. The CBI said three persons, including a channel partner of the telecom service provider, were arrested in December 2025 and are under judicial custody.
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Key insights

  • 1

    CBI links bulk SIM issuance to phishing operations: The CBI said fraudulently obtained SIM cards were used to transmit bulk SMS for phishing messages, calling phishing a key first step in most cyber frauds.

  • 2

    KYC misuse alleged in bulk SIM procurement: The CBI said dummy individuals were arranged and falsely projected as employees to submit documents for KYC formalities.

Takeaways

The CBI alleges the accused facilitated fraudulent bulk SIM issuance that enabled a phishing network operating around Delhi and Chandigarh and has placed the case under ongoing investigation.

Topics

Technology & Innovation Cybersecurity Law & Public Safety Crime & Justice Law Enforcement

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