The Pune unit of the Anti-Terrorism Squad has arrested a Bhiwandi man after a raid at an apartment in Kondhwa.

Pune:The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has successfully dismantled an illegal telephone exchange operating out of an apartment in Kondhwa, Pune. On August 24, following a tip-off, ATS officers in collaboration with the central Department of Telecommunications conducted a raid at MS Complex, Mitha Nagar, Kondhwa.

The operation led to the arrest of Naushad Ahmed Siddiqui, 32, a resident of Bhiwandi. Siddiqui was allegedly running the unauthorized telephone exchange from his apartment. During the raid, authorities confiscated seven SIM boxes from various telecom companies, 3,788 SIM cards, nine Wi-Fi routers, an antenna, an inverter, and a laptop.

Siddiqui has been remanded in ATS custody as investigations continue into the purpose and duration of the illegal operation. The telecom department has outlawed the use of SIM boxes, which are known to facilitate the termination of international calls as local calls, bypassing licensed international long-distance operators.

Siddiqui, who is reportedly not well-educated, is suspected to have been operating the exchange for financial gain since relocating to Pune from Bhiwandi about eight months ago. The police have charged him under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and several provisions of the Indian Telegraph Act, the Indian Telecommunication Act, and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act.

The investigation is ongoing, with authorities seeking to uncover the origins of the SIM boxes and SIM cards used, as well as any potential financial transactions and connections to international networks. While no additional arrests have been made so far, there are indications that foreign entities may be involved.

This case marks the first SIM box scam bust in Pune, following similar actions in cities such as Chennai. The telecom department has highlighted that such illegal setups undermine national security and result in significant revenue losses for telecom providers and the government.

The ATS continues to probe the extent of the network and its implications, with further updates expected as the investigation progresses.