The Uttarakhand Special Task Force’s cybercrime team and Dehradun Police have uncovered a suspected call centre allegedly using a SIM box to contact bank and financial-institution customers about credit cards. The operation took place at an office near Kamla Palace on GMS Road in Dehradun.
Police arrested company manager Lakshman Prasad and regional manager Jagmohan Singh Rawat. A first information report has been registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Information Technology Act and the Telecommunications Act.
The allegations remain under investigation. Police have not established guilt through a court decision.
What the search found
STF SSP Ajay Singh said the action followed information received from the Department of Telecommunications. Investigators searched the office of Singh Asset Recon Services Private Limited, or SARS, operating from the Carrier House Building.
The search reportedly led to the recovery of a 32-slot SIM box, 45 SIM cards, a laptop, 2 routers, 4 GB RAM and 2 ATM cards. Police said more than 30 young men and women were working at the call centre and were paid through commissions.
Officials said the laptop contained data linked to credit-card customers of several banks and financial institutions. The names mentioned by police include SBI, Bank of Baroda, Axis Bank, Poonawalla Finance, Yes Bank and RBL.
Alleged calling method
According to police, callers presented information about credit cards and their associated benefits. In some cases, they allegedly pressured customers and threatened them while seeking quick payment.
Investigators also found that calls were being placed from personal mobile numbers instead of the designated 1600 number series. The use of the SIM box and multiple SIM cards is now part of the inquiry.
The available information does not state how many customers may have been affected or how much money was allegedly taken. Police have said that further investigation is continuing.
Company and legal action
The arrests concern the company’s manager and regional manager, while the inquiry is examining the call centre’s operations, equipment and customer data. The registered case covers offences under the BNS, IT Act and Telecommunications Act.
The investigation will determine the wider role of the office, the source and use of the customer information, and whether additional people were involved. No further arrests were reported in the available material.
Conclusion
Dehradun authorities have arrested 2 managers after finding a suspected SIM-box call centre near GMS Road. The case, involving alleged credit-card-related pressure and calls from personal numbers, remains under investigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Where was the suspected call centre found?
It was found in an office near Kamla Palace on GMS Road, at the Carrier House Building in Dehradun.
Q. Which agencies conducted the operation?
The STF’s cybercrime team and Dehradun Police conducted the operation after receiving information from the Department of Telecommunications.
Q. How many people were arrested?
Police arrested company manager Lakshman Prasad and regional manager Jagmohan Singh Rawat.
Q. What equipment was recovered?
The search recovered a 32-slot SIM box, 45 SIM cards, a laptop, 2 routers, 4 GB RAM and 2 ATM cards.
Q. What allegations are being investigated?
Police allege that callers approached bank and financial-institution customers about credit cards, and sometimes used pressure or threats to seek quick payments.
Q. Which customer data was reportedly found?
Police said the laptop contained credit-card-related data involving customers of SBI, Bank of Baroda, Axis Bank, Poonawalla Finance, Yes Bank and RBL.
Q. What case has been registered?
A case was registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station under provisions of the BNS, IT Act and Telecommunications Act.
Q. Is the investigation complete?
No. Police said the investigation is continuing.
