In a major crackdown on cyber-enabled fraud, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two directors of a Meerut-based company for allegedly running SIM Box operations to facilitate large-scale cybercrime. The accused, identified as Mohammad Vilal (also referred to as Mohammed Bilal) and Mohammed Dilshad, were apprehended in coordinated raids following extensive investigations.
Simultaneously, Meerut Police and the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the Uttar Pradesh Police arrested six individuals from the Lisadi Gate area—Fardeen, Nazim alias Furqan, Faheem, Sultan, Shadab, and Rahis—recovering 180 SIM cards used for illegal VoIP operations.
The company, incorporated in January 2025 under the pretext of legitimate business, had procured at least 108 SIM cards, claiming they were for employee use. These SIMs were deployed through SIM Box devices, which route international or internet-based calls via multiple local mobile numbers. This enabled scammers to disguise call origins, evade detection, and carry out phishing, digital arrest scams, investment frauds, and other cybercrimes at lower costs.
The raids, part of the CBI’s wider efforts to dismantle cyber fraud networks, targeted premises across Meerut and Noida. Technical analysis of call patterns linked to complaints helped identify the locations, leading to arrests on March 27, 2026. Authorities revealed that the company was allegedly created solely to enable SIM Box operations for cybercrime.
Meerut Police also uncovered a sophisticated illegal VoIP exchange in the Lisadi Gate area, converting international calls into local calls to bypass telecom charges and mask identities. The operation was detected with the help of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), and raids by Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and ATS teams led to the arrest of six individuals.
Police investigations are ongoing to trace other participants, including possible international collaborators. Citizens are urged to report suspicious calls or fraud attempts through the official cybercrime portal (cybercrime.gov.in) or helpline 1930. Authorities warned the public to remain vigilant against unsolicited calls requesting money or personal information.
The cases underscore the growing challenges of regulating bulk SIM issuance and telecom resources amid rising cyber threats in India, with further arrests possible as investigations continue.
