The documents that you give a retailer to obtain a SIM card may end up being used to procure multiple SIM cards in your name and issued to random people.
This is what happened in the case of Bodo militant Sanju Bordoloi, who was arrested on Monday. A forged and pre-activated SIM card was issued to him.
Insiders say the practice is rampant in the industry and this particular case was only the tip of the iceberg. Police investigations into the case have revealed the modus operandi where the retail outlets forge documents for the SIM cards.
The procedure laid down by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for activation of a SIM card usually takes 48 hours, with document verification built into the procedure thrice. One of the main motives for forging documents to sell a pre-activated SIM card across the counter for a price is that customers do not have the patience to go through the 48-hour procedure, industry insiders say. “It has a market. Even regular people buy these SIM cards,” said an official with a private service provider.
Retailers have access to identification documents of rule-abiding customers, which they misuse to activate multiple SIM cards in their names. Retailers fill in blank applications with details of such customers, provide their documents, forge signatures, activate the SIM cards using his (the retailer’s) handset and hoard such SIM cards to be sold for a price.
A senior official with a service provider said that retailers do insist on submission of documents by those who have bought such pre-activated SIM cards, though not necessary. He said they use those documents to procure SIM cards for others.
Police have now arrested the proprietor of Kushal Agency, the retail outlet in Electronics City that allegedly sold the forged SIM card to the militant. They have also arrested six employees.