Kolkata Police arrest 11 in SIM card fraud ring run from Salt Lake call centre
Synopsis
Eleven people are now in custody after Kolkata Police dismantled a sophisticated SIM card fraud ring operating from a Salt Lake call centre. The gang — all from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana — forged documents to create fake SIM cards and posed as loan company representatives to extort victims of lakhs of rupees.
Key Takeaways
Kolkata Police arrested seven more suspects on 26 September 2026 , bringing total arrests in the case to 11 .
The accused operated from a call centre in Salt Lake, Kolkata , under the name 'Tauseef Telecom' .
All arrested individuals are residents of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana , allegedly brought to West Bengal by a man named Sundar .
The gang forged documents to obtain SIM cards and used them to impersonate loan company representatives, cheating victims of lakhs of rupees .
Multiple smartphones and keypad phones were recovered; the probe was initiated following a report by Sub-Inspector Mohammad Abbasuddin Biswas of Narkeldanga Police Station .
Further arrests are possible as investigators expand the probe across state lines.
Kolkata Police have arrested seven more suspects from a house in Salt Lake, Kolkata, on Saturday, 26 September 2026, in connection with a large-scale SIM card fraud operation, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to 11. The accused, all residents of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, allegedly forged documents to obtain SIM cards in other people's names and used them to defraud victims of lakhs of rupees.
How the Fraud Ring Operated
According to police, the accused set up an illegal call centre inside the Salt Lake residence, running their scheme under the guise of entities such as 'Tauseef Telecom'. Investigators say they collected personal documents from unsuspecting individuals, forged those documents, and used them to procure multiple SIM cards. These SIM cards were then rotated across several smartphones and keypad phones — a technique designed to evade tracking — and used to pose as representatives of loan companies. Victims were allegedly cheated and extorted of substantial sums.
How the Investigation Unfolded
The probe was initiated after Sub-Inspector Mohammad Abbasuddin Biswas of Narkeldanga Police Station filed an official report based on a case registered in Narkeldanga area. Police first arrested Narkeldanga resident Tauseef Alam on 17 September, whose interrogation exposed the broader network and led investigators to the Salt Lake hideout. Within days, three more suspects were taken into custody, followed by the latest batch of seven on Saturday.
Key Evidence Recovered
During the search of the Salt Lake premises, police recovered multiple smartphones and keypad phones. The Cyber Cell confirmed that different SIM cards were used on these devices at different times to make tracing difficult. Investigators say the scale of the document-forgery operation suggests a well-organised supply chain of fraudulent credentials.
The Role of 'Sundar' and Inter-State Links
According to police, a man identified only as Sundar allegedly recruited the seven latest accused from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and brought them to West Bengal, where they established the Salt Lake hideout. This inter-state dimension has prompted authorities to widen the scope of the investigation. It remains unclear whether additional kingpins are at large.
What Happens Next
All 11 arrested individuals are currently in police custody. Investigators are examining the phones and SIM cards to map the full extent of the fraud network and identify victims. Further arrests are possible as the probe expands beyond West Bengal.
Point of View
Cross-state operation for an extended period raises uncomfortable questions about KYC enforcement by telecom providers. The 'Tauseef Telecom' front — a private entity used to lend legitimacy to document collection — is a growing template. Authorities need to address not just the foot soldiers, but the upstream enablers who supplied forged credentials without detection.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people have been arrested in the Kolkata SIM card fraud case?
A total of 11 people have been arrested so far — four in earlier rounds and seven more on 26 September 2026 . All accused are residents of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana .
How did the fraudsters operate from Salt Lake?
The accused set up an illegal call centre in a Salt Lake residence and posed as loan company representatives. They forged documents to obtain SIM cards in other people's names and used those cards on multiple phones to contact and extort victims of lakhs of rupees.
What is 'Tauseef Telecom' in connection with the fraud case?
'Tauseef Telecom' was one of the front organisations the accused allegedly used to collect personal documents from individuals. Those documents were then forged to procure SIM cards used in the fraud. The operation was first linked to Narkeldanga resident Tauseef Alam , arrested on 17 September .
Who is 'Sundar' in the Kolkata fraud case?
According to police, a man identified as Sundar allegedly recruited the seven latest arrested suspects from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and arranged their relocation to West Bengal to run the Salt Lake call centre operation. His current status in the investigation has not been confirmed.
What evidence did Kolkata Police recover during the raids?
Police recovered several smartphones and keypad phones from the Salt Lake premises. The Cyber Cell confirmed that different SIM cards were rotated across these devices at different times to make tracking difficult. Investigators are now mapping the full victim network.
