Pune: ATS cracks down on illegal telephone exchange in Kondhwa, 3,788 sim cards besides other equipment seized
Pune, August 29, 2024: Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) officials in Pune have busted an illegal telephone exchange that was operating in Kondhwa and seized 7 sim boxes, 3,788 sim cards, 9 Wi-Fi routers and antennas used for the network.
The Pune unit of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) said on Thursday that it busted an illegal telephone exchange and arrested a man who was operating it from an apartment in Kondhwa.
In a press release, the police said that acting on a tip-off, they and a team from the central Department of Telecommunication raided MS Complex at Mitha Nagar in Kondhwa on August 24 and found an illegal telephone exchange operating from there.
The police identified the arrested accused as Naushad Ahmed Siddiqui, 32, a native of Bhiwandi. A court remanded Siddiqui in the custody of the ATS, which is investigating the purpose behind the illegal telephone exchange and since when it had been functioning in Pune.
Initial investigation has revealed that Siddiqui, not very well educated, was operating the unauthorized telephone exchange for money, the police said. He is suspected to have shifted from Bhiwandi to Pune about eight months ago.
The telecom department has banned the use of SIM boxes.
This setup was used to route international calls through unauthorized channels over VOIP causing a considerable revenue loss to telecom providers and the government besides being a serious threat to national security.
