Bangladeshi Mastermind Behind Odisha SIM Box Racket Operating from Dhaka: Police

Bhubaneswar: The Bangladeshi mastermind behind the recently busted SIM box racket in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Ranchi, identified as Asadur Zaman, was running the illegal operation from Dhaka using smart switch technology, according to Bhubaneswar and Cuttack Twin City Police Commissioner Sanjeeb Panda.

Panda revealed that Zaman, who founded a software company in Dhaka, was directly managing the SIM box centres in Bhubaneswar and Ranchi. Zaman entered India through Agartala and returned to Bangladesh via West Bengal after a two-month stay.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has already interrogated Raju Mandal, a key suspect who set up the SIM boxes. “We plan to seek a seven-day extension of Mandal’s remand for further questioning,” Panda stated during a press briefing in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.

Mandal’s role was primarily as a service provider, responsible for installing the SIM boxes. Further investigations are underway to identify who used the boxes and their intended purpose. Panda also emphasised the need to raise awareness among landlords to ensure they have detailed information about tenants.

The police are working to establish proof that Zaman stayed in India, aiming to collect evidence that could lead to his arrest through the CBI and Interpol. The Commissionerate Police suspects that the SIM boxes were used to make international calls to countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkey, raising concerns about potential terrorist links.