CBI Arrests Airtel Distributor Over Illegal SIM Box Operation Linked to 73 Cyber Fraud Cases:

In relation to an illegal SIM box operation used to carry out cyber-enabled frauds, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested an Airtel distributor. He is alleged to have fraudulently issued and passed a large number of SIM cards to facilitate the fraud.

The arrest took place following searches conducted at ten premises in Vaishali district of Bihar and Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha.

After the searches at the aforementioned locations, the officials found incriminating material in various digital devices like mobile phones, laptops, and SIM cards. They were all immediately confiscated for further inquiry.

Presently, the CBI is investigating a case of illegal SIM box operation which came to light last year in the Supaul district of Bihar. The case was sent to the CBI upon revelation. There was a house where a SIM box was being operated; there, the officials found over 1300 SIM cards. When further investigation was conducted in that case, it was noted that it was not a single case; instead, about 73 cybercrime cases, such as the ‘Digital Arrest’ modus operandi and others from all across India, were linked.

When the CBI analysed the data concerning more than 1300 SIM cards, it was found that the majority of SIM cards were issued either from Bihar or from Odisha. About 700 SIM cards were found to be issued by an area distributor of Airtel after misusing the details extracted from more than a dozen points of sale for SIM cards in the Vaishali district of Bihar.

Many subscribers said they were unaware that SIM cards had been issued in their names. They were either tricked into completing e-KYC multiple times when they visited a SIM card provider for a genuine purpose, or their biometric data collected for another purpose was misused.

According to the press release dated September 12, 2026, "the CBI reiterates its commitment to taking stringent legal action against individuals and entities that enable cyber fraud by misusing telecom infrastructure. It also advises citizens to remain vigilant and cautions that there is no such concept as a “digital arrest.” Members of the public are urged not to fall prey to calls made in the name of law enforcement agencies demanding money, or to fraudulent investment schemes."