In a major cyber fraud bust, Bandra Police arrested Delhi resident Vivek Sabharwal for trying to activate a SIM using the number of late MLA Baba Siddique. The accused used forged documents in the name of Siddique’s wife to attempt the fraud. A telecom alert led to swift action. The case is linked to a wider cybercrime network under investigation.
Baba Siddique. File Pic
In a major crackdown by Mumbai's Bandra Police, a man from Delhi has been arrested for allegedly attempting to activate a new SIM card using the mobile number of former Maharashtra MLA Baba Siddique. NCP leader Baba Siddique was murdered in October 2024 in Mumbai’s Bandra area, just as he was stepping out of his office.
As per ANI, the accused is reportedly a resident of Delhi's Burari area and has previous cases of cybercrime registered against him. The accused, who has been arrested, was trying to activate Baba Siddique's mobile number on a different SIM card with the intent of committing fraud.
It has also been reported that there are already two cases registered against the accused in Mumbai.
Following former NCP MLA Baba Siddique's death, his family kept his mobile number active, as it was linked to his ongoing business operations. However, on June 24, an email was received in the name of Baba Siddique's wife, Shahzeen Siddique, seeking information related to the official ownership and authorisation of the mobile number.
The email was accompanied by documents including Shahzeen Siddique's Aadhaar card, PAN card, GST number, and the letterhead of the family's company.
The man who has been arrested from Delhi allegedly planned to use these forged documents to activate the number on another SIM card and execute fraudulent activities in the name of the late Baba Siddique.
However, the concerned telecom, acting smartly amid this incident, alerted the family via email after receiving the suspicious application. Baba Siddique's daughter, Dr Arshia, was also informed about this incident, which raised the family's suspicion about the chances of fraud.
Following the email received from the telecom company, a complaint was filed at the Bandra Police Station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
As per ANI, an FIR has been registered under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 319(2) (cheating), Section 62 (attempt to commit a cognisable offence), Section 335 (forgery of documents), Sections 336(2) and 336(3) (forgery of records), and Section 340(2) (misrepresentation of electronic records as genuine).
The accused has been identified as Vivek Sabharwal, who was arrested by the Mumbai Police from Delhi. Preliminary investigations suggest that the case is linked to a cyber fraud group, and further investigations are underway.
(With ANI Inputs)
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