Mumbai Crime Branch busts inter-state racket supplying CDRs, subscriber records and live locations

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The Mumbai Police Crime Branch has busted an inter-state syndicate operating across Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Bihar for illegally procuring and supplying Call Detail Records (CDRs), Subscriber Detail Records (SDRs), and live location data. Five people, including two constables from the Jharkhand and Bihar police, have been arrested.

Fake inspector

The racket came to light after the Crime Intelligence Unit, acting on a tip-off, arrested the prime suspect in Jogeshwari (West). The accused ran an Instagram account offering to recover lost mobile phones, impersonating an "Inspector Sanjay" to extract money from victims. An inspection of his phones revealed he was illegally sourcing data from associates to locate devices and back up his claims.

Police link

Further investigations identified nine individuals in the data-supply chain, resulting in five arrests across three states. Among those apprehended are two serving police constables who aided the illegal data flow.

Massive breach

A preliminary probe shows the network illegally supplied around 50 CDRs, over 520 SDRs, live location data for more than 550 mobile numbers, and information on over 420 IMEI numbers. Officers have seized seven mobile phones linked to the operation.

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