New Delhi, September 21, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has warned citizens against the misuse of SIM cards and other telecom identifiers, saying violations under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 can attract imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh.
The advisory follows the detection of a fraudulent SIM issuance racket in Chhattisgarh, where mobile connections were activated using citizens’ identity documents without their knowledge or consent.
According to the Ministry of Communications, a Point of Sale (PoS) agent in the state was found to have illegally activated 25 SIM cards using identification documents belonging to citizens without their consent.
The DoT, in coordination with telecom service providers, subsequently blacklisted the PoS agent, permanently preventing the outlet from issuing mobile connections.
The 25 mobile numbers were examined through the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP), a DoT system designed to detect suspicious telecom activity. Connections identified as potentially fraudulent were subjected to re-verification, while those that failed the verification process were deactivated.
In its public advisory, the DoT reiterated that fraudulent issuance of SIM cards, misuse of telecom identifiers and tampering with International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers constitute serious offences under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
The Department said such violations can result in imprisonment of up to three years and financial penalties of up to Rs 50 lakh.
The warning comes amid concerns over the use of telecom resources for cybercrime, digital fraud and other unlawful activities. With mobile connectivity and digital services expanding rapidly, the DoT has stressed the need for compliance with telecom regulations to protect citizens and safeguard the integrity of communication networks.
FOLLOW NOW
