New Delhi (Economy India): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a regional sales manager of Vodafone for allegedly facilitating the fraudulent issuance of a large number of SIM cards that were later used by a cybercrime syndicate to carry out large-scale online fraud, officials said on Thursday.
The accused has been identified as Binu Vidhyadharan, who was serving as Regional Sales Manager (New Delhi) with the telecom company.
Allegations Linked to Fake SIM Issuance
According to the CBI, the arrested official allegedly played a role in enabling the illegal activation and distribution of SIM cards without proper verification, in violation of telecom regulations. These SIM cards were subsequently used by a cybercrime gang involved in cheating and digital fraud operations across multiple regions.
Officials said the SIM cards were used to facilitate:
- Online financial fraud
- Identity-related cyber crimes
- Digital payment scams
Role Emerged During Cybercrime Probe
The CBI said the involvement of the Vodafone official came to light during an investigation conducted in December last year into a cybercrime network operating across Delhi-NCR and Chandigarh.
The agency had earlier busted the gang, which was allegedly using illegally obtained SIM cards to carry out cyber fraud on a large scale. During the probe, investigators traced several connections back to telecom distribution channels, leading to the arrest.
Ongoing Investigation
Officials said further investigation is underway to determine:
- The scale of SIM card misuse
- Whether other telecom officials or distributors were involved
- The extent of financial losses caused by the cybercrime syndicate
The CBI has not ruled out additional arrests as the probe continues.
Telecom Compliance Under Scrutiny
The case once again brings focus on SIM verification norms and telecom compliance, especially as cybercrime cases continue to rise across the country. Law enforcement agencies have repeatedly flagged misuse of improperly issued SIM cards as a key enabler of digital fraud.
Vodafone Yet to Issue Detailed Statement
As of now, Vodafone has not issued a detailed public statement regarding the arrest. Officials said the investigation pertains to individual conduct and not the company as a whole.
The arrest underscores the increasing scrutiny on telecom intermediaries in cybercrime investigations and highlights the importance of strict adherence to customer verification norms in preventing digital fraud.
(Economy India)
