Delhi Police’s IGI Unit has dismantled a SIM card smuggling operation with suspected ties to an international online gaming network, leading to the arrest of five individuals from Madhya Pradesh. The group was allegedly involved in fraudulently acquiring and shipping 398 activated Indian SIM cards overseas, primarily to Dubai.
The racket came to light on February 15 when CISF officials at IGI Airport’s Terminal-3 intercepted Sunil Rawat, an Indian national bound for Dubai, with 398 active SIM cards registered under various names. Investigations revealed Rawat was acting under instructions from a Dubai-based contact named Faisal, who had offered him ₹35,000 and a job to transport the SIM cards.
Rawat disclosed that his friends in Madhya Pradesh had arranged the SIM cards and sent them to him via courier. This led police to identify Ashwin Kumar and Ankit Kumawat, both from Madhya Pradesh, as the primary suppliers. A police team dispatched to Ujjain and Dewas districts subsequently arrested Ankit Kumawat, who allegedly procured the SIM cards by deceiving locals with promises of free data and calls. Each SIM card was sold for ₹500 to Ashwin Kumar, who then supplied them to his brother Manish Kumar and associate Faisal in Dubai.
Ashwin Kumar, who runs a small trading business in Dewas, was also arrested. He reportedly confessed to supplying the SIMs and revealed that Faisal used them to create accounts and manipulate online gaming applications, earning points that were then sold for profit.
Further arrests included Manish Kumar (Ashwin’s brother), Lokendra Sendhav, and Dwarka Prasad, all from Dewas. Lokendra allegedly allowed his bank account to be used for receiving payments, while Prasad acted as a facilitator between the accused parties for a commission.
Police stated that Faisal, believed to be the mastermind, is still at large, and efforts are underway to apprehend him. Authorities emphasized that the use of Indian SIM cards in cross-border digital operations poses a significant threat, as they can be used to mask identities and enable fraud on online platforms.
