Vaishali/Patna: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has intensified its crackdown on the illegal sale of SIM cards in Vaishali, identifying several vendors accused of issuing connections using forged identities.
The action forms part of “Operation Chakra-5”, a nationwide campaign aimed at dismantling networks facilitating cyber fraud through unauthorised SIM distribution. Officials said the operation is being carried out across at least eight states, including Bihar, Assam, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi and Jharkhand.
Investigators have placed multiple SIM vendors in Vaishali under scrutiny, alleging their involvement in supplying cards registered under fake names and addresses. At least four individuals linked to the network have already been arrested, officials said, while efforts are under way to locate others.
Authorities believe such SIM cards are a critical tool in enabling large-scale cyber fraud. In several cases across Bihar, including districts such as Supaul and Samastipur, law enforcement agencies have uncovered the use of “SIM box” devices. These systems convert international VoIP (voice over internet protocol) calls into local voice calls, masking their origin and facilitating fraudulent activity.
Officials added that the misuse of these SIMs extends beyond calls. They are also used to operate so-called “mule accounts” — bank accounts opened under fictitious company names to channel and withdraw proceeds of cyber crime from across the country.
The investigation has widened to include intermediaries and agents involved in distributing SIM cards, as well as potential links within banking channels. Sources said the CBI is also examining the role of bank employees who may have aided in operating such accounts.
Separately, Bihar’s economic offences unit has previously arrested four SIM vendors from the Mahua area of Vaishali in connection with similar offences, indicating the scale and persistence of the network.
The latest crackdown underscores growing concerns among enforcement agencies over the role of telecom and financial loopholes in enabling cyber crime, even as authorities attempt to tighten oversight through coordinated national operations.
