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| Fake sim card scam: CJM reject bail plea of four accused | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Aug 22: Chief Judicial Magistrate Jammu Amarjeet Singh Langeh has rejected the bail applications of four persons involved in fake sim card scam and booked under two different FIRs.
As per police reports, Trikuta Nagar police station received information from reliable sources that some SIM card vendors belonging to different service providers have engaged themselves in selling of SIM cards fraudulently by preparing false documents, forging and faking identity related papers and other relevant record with intention to cheat service provider and thereby aiding and assisting criminals in order to get monetary benefits.
Based on this information, FIR no. 168/2022 for offences under sections 420/467/468 & 471 of IPC was registered and investigation started. During the course of investigation, all the petitioners were found to be Point of Sale agents indulging in business of selling SIM cards. During investigation, it also came to fore that Petitioners Deepak Kumar and Subash Thakur have their POS location inside 213 - Transit Camp at Panama Chowk, Jammu while as Petitioner Mohan Singh has his POS at Channi Rama near Transit Camp 76 CRPF. Investigating agency also collected evidence showing prima facie that petitioner Subash Thakur sold 61 SIMs to different customers based on fake and forged documents. He allegedly used photographs of locals and issued SIM cards to outsiders by forging their identity. Likewise, petitioners Deepak and Mohan Singh are alleged to have issued two and one number of fake SIM cards to different customers respectively. One SIM card pertains to BSNL as service provider while as remaining 63 belong to Airtel Telecom Company. Investigating Agency asserts that role of service providers in cahoots with petitioners in preparation of fake documents followed by issuance of SIMs on fake and forged documents if any, is also being probed and investigation in that end is at initial stage.
In another FIR registered by Gandhi Nagar Police station that on 23.06.2022, respondent police station allegedly received information from dependable channels that few Point of Sale (POS) vendors are involved in fraudulent selling of SIM cards by way of preparing false documents within the jurisdiction of respondent police station for monetary gain and in order to aid and assist criminals etc. etc. Based on this information, FIR no.152/2022 for offences under sections 420/467/468 & 471 of IPC was registered and investigation started. During the course of investigation, out of 11 SIM cards alleged to have been fraudulently issued, the investigating agency obtained Customer Application Forms (CAF) pertaining to 09 such SIM cards from Service Providers i.e. Jio, Airtel & Vodaphone Telecom Companies. Four such SIMs have allegedly been issued by petitioner to different customers on the basis of fake identity documents.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Jammu Amarjeet Singh Langeh after hearing APP Kuldeep Bhat for the Police whereas Advocate Sandeep Gupta for Deepak Kumar, Subash Thakur, Mohan Singh and Advocate Sahil Verma for Sahil Kumar, observed that investigation carried out thus far prima facie indicate that petitioner has forged Customer Application Forms (CAF) as aforesaid and issued 4 SIMs to different customers on the basis of fake identity documents. Investigation also insinuates that subsequently petitioner managed to activate the SIM cards so issued by fraudulent means. That apart, the role of service providers as aforesaid is also under the gaze of investigation and in that end, investigation is at initial stage. Under the guise of running Point of Sale (POS), petitioner therefore seems to have indulged in the activity which prima facie attracts offences under sections 420/467/468 & 471 of IPC. In the given context therefore, the offences alleged against petitioner have far reaching and humongous security implications also. That apart, offences under sections 420, 467 & 468 of IPC are non-bailable in nature. Not only this, offence under section 467 of IPC carries punishment upto life imprisonment and it is trite and perhaps needs no re-iteration that character of evidence gathered during investigation, gravity of the offences involved, the character and antecedents of accused, the quantum of punishment which offences alleged carry and larger interest of public in the event of grant of bail are the fewest of the circumstances that need to be considered. In the instant case, all these circumstances are poignantly poised against petitioner, more particularly when some vital aspects of the matter are still under investigation. With these observations, Court rejected the bail applications. —JNF |
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