In a major crackdown on cyber fraud linked to international online gaming, Delhi Police arrested five individuals from Madhya Pradesh involved in an illegal SIM card smuggling racket at Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The operation came to light on February 15, when CISF officers at Terminal 3 intercepted Sunil Rawat, who was set to travel to Dubai. He was found in possession of 398 active Indian SIM cards, each registered under different names.
Following a detailed probe, DCP (IGI Airport) Usha Rangnani confirmed the arrests and revealed a network centered in Ujjain and Dewas districts of Madhya Pradesh, where the SIM cards were fraudulently obtained.
The accused allegedly misled local residents into acquiring SIMs under their names by claiming they were part of a promotional offer with free data and calls.
Arrested Individuals:
Ankit Kumawat (30) – Key operator who sourced the SIMs
Ashwin Kumar (37) – Middleman supplying SIMs to Dubai
Manish Kumar (35)
Lokendra Sendhav (34)
Dwarka Prasad (36)
The SIM cards were being routed to Faisal, a Dubai-based individual, for use in online gaming apps, suggesting deeper ties to a cross-border fraud syndicate.
Police say efforts are ongoing to locate Faisal and dismantle the broader network, which may include elements of international financial fraud and digital identity theft.
