ED attaches ₹1.5 crore properties in BSNL bulk SMS money-laundering case
Synopsis
A BSNL insider allegedly helped route over 63 crore bulk SMS messages through state telecom infrastructure while bypassing mandatory billing systems — costing the public telco ₹5.42 crore. The ED has now attached ₹2.30 crore in properties across Punjab and Gujarat, with proceeds of crime quantified at ₹6.47 crore and the investigation still active.
Key Takeaways
The ED's Chandigarh Zonal Office provisionally attached seven properties worth ₹1.50 crore on 4 September under PMLA, 2002 .
The accused include Swarnjeet Singh , former BSNL SMSC Sub-Divisional Engineer , and co-conspirators Saurabh Tyagi , Marconi James Macwan , and Preeti Gohel .
Around 63.37 crore bulk SMS messages were illegally routed, bypassing the mandatory DLT/Tanla billing platform.
BSNL 's estimated revenue loss stands at ₹5.42 crore , including ₹4.05 crore in Interconnection Usage Charges.
Total properties attached in the case now stand at ₹2.30 crore ; proceeds of crime quantified at ₹6.47 crore .
The case was initiated on a CBI Anti-Corruption Branch FIR; further investigation is underway.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s Chandigarh Zonal Office has provisionally attached seven immovable properties valued at approximately ₹1.50 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with a money-laundering investigation linked to the unauthorised routing of bulk SMS traffic through BSNL's network. The action was announced on Friday, 4 September, targeting accused individuals who allegedly exploited state telecom infrastructure for illegal financial gain.
Who Is Under the Scanner
The attachment has been made against Swarnjeet Singh, who served as BSNL's SMSC Sub-Divisional Engineer in Chandigarh, along with others. According to the ED, Singh allegedly acted in criminal conspiracy with Saurabh Tyagi, Marconi James Macwan, and Preeti Gohel to facilitate unauthorised access to BSNL's Short Message Service Centre (SMSC) infrastructure.
The ED probe was initiated on the basis of an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)'s Anti-Corruption Branch in Chandigarh against Swarnjeet Singh, M/s Doorsteps Solutions, and others.
How the Fraud Was Carried Out
Investigators found that the accused bypassed the mandatory DLT/Tanla platform and the prescribed billing mechanism, enabling bulk SMS traffic to be routed illegally through BSNL's SMSC infrastructure. According to the ED, around 63.37 crore bulk push SMS messages were illegally routed through the network.
M/s Smart Technology and M/s Doorsteps Solutions, along with their partners, allegedly availed these unauthorised bulk SMS services at rates below prevailing market rates, deriving direct financial benefit from the arrangement.
Financial Impact on BSNL
The estimated revenue loss to BSNL stands at ₹5.42 crore, which includes approximately ₹4.05 crore towards Interconnection Usage Charges (IUC). At the current stage of the investigation, the total proceeds of crime have been quantified at around ₹6.47 crore.
Properties Attached and Cumulative Action
The seven properties now attached include agricultural land in SAS Nagar (Mohali), Punjab, as well as residential and commercial properties in Vadodara, Gujarat. This latest action follows an earlier attachment of property worth ₹80 lakh on 27 March 2025, bringing the total value of provisionally attached assets in the case to approximately ₹2.30 crore.
The ED has stated that further investigation into the matter is ongoing, and additional attachments or arrests cannot be ruled out as the probe advances.
Point of View
Cutting the government out of both billing oversight and revenue. The ₹6.47 crore in quantified proceeds may appear modest, but the 63-crore-message volume signals an operation that ran at scale for an extended period. What this case also exposes is a structural gap in BSNL's internal audit mechanisms: unauthorised SMSC access of this magnitude should have triggered automated alerts long before a CBI FIR was needed. As the ED continues to widen its net across Punjab and Gujarat, the question is whether systemic fixes inside BSNL are keeping pace with the enforcement action outside it.
NationPress
5 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BSNL bulk SMS money-laundering case?
It is a money-laundering investigation in which accused individuals, including a former BSNL engineer, allegedly facilitated the illegal routing of over 63.37 crore bulk SMS messages through BSNL's SMSC infrastructure, bypassing mandatory billing systems. The ED initiated its probe based on a CBI Anti-Corruption Branch FIR registered in Chandigarh.
Who has been named in the ED's action?
The ED's action targets Swarnjeet Singh, the then BSNL SMSC Sub-Divisional Engineer in Chandigarh, along with Saurabh Tyagi, Marconi James Macwan, Preeti Gohel, and entities M/s Smart Technology and M/s Doorsteps Solutions.
What is the total financial loss to BSNL in this case?
BSNL's estimated revenue loss stands at ₹5.42 crore, of which approximately ₹4.05 crore relates to Interconnection Usage Charges. The total proceeds of crime in the case have been quantified at around ₹6.47 crore.
Which properties has the ED attached?
The seven newly attached properties include agricultural land in SAS Nagar (Mohali), Punjab, and residential and commercial properties in Vadodara, Gujarat. Combined with an earlier ₹80 lakh attachment on 27 March 2025, total provisionally attached assets in the case now stand at approximately ₹2.30 crore.
What happens next in the investigation?
The ED has stated that further investigation is ongoing. Additional attachments, summons, or arrests remain possible as the agency continues to trace and quantify proceeds of crime under PMLA, 2002.
