SIM box scam in Bhubaneswar: Bangladeshi national identified as mastermind

Bhubaneswar, Aug 17: Commissionerate Police in Bhubaneswar on Saturday uncovered startling details about a large-scale SIM box scam involving a Bangladeshi national.

At a press briefing, Police Commissioner Sanjeeb Panda identified Asadur Jaman, a Bangladeshi citizen, as the key figure behind the scheme. Jaman was linked to Raju Mandal, who has been arrested in connection with the scam.

During a raid conducted on Friday at a residence in Mahadevnagar, under the jurisdiction of the Laxmisagar police, a special team seized seven SIM boxes, approximately 1,000 pre-activated SIM cards from West Bengal, old SIM cards, routers, and other related equipment.

Panda explained that the investigation has revealed a sophisticated network of illegal SIM card trade with international connections. Further inquiries will explore the involvement of other individuals and organizations in the scam.

According to Panda, Jaman entered India in October via Agartala and visited Bhubaneswar before returning to Bangladesh in December. While in Odisha, Jaman stayed at a Bhubaneswar hotel and set up two additional SIM boxes, which are now under investigation. Panda assured that steps will be taken to dismantle these operations.

The investigation has also revealed that the SIM boxes were smuggled into India from Bangladesh through secretive channels, and Jaman was responsible for financial transactions with Mandal, underscoring their deep involvement in the scheme.