JUDGMENT

DR. SWARANA KANTA SHARMA, J. (Oral)

CRL.M.A. 1394/2026 in BAIL APPLN. 164/2026

CRL.M.A. 1400-01/2026 in BAIL APPLN. 166/2026

1. Allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

2. Applications stand disposed of.

BAIL APPLN. 164/2026, CRL.M.A. 1393/2026 & CRL.M.A. 1420/2026

BAIL APPLN. 166/2026 & CRL. M.A. 1399/2026

3. By way of the present bail applications, applicants seek grant of anticipatory bail in case arising out of FIR bearing no. RC2212025E0016, registered at Police Station EO-III Delhi, for the commission of offence punishable under Sections 61(2)/318(4)/319 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (hereafter ‘BNS’) and Sections 43/66B/66C/66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (hereafter ‘IT Act’).

4. Brief facts of the case are that a source information was received by the investigating agency, to the effect that certain private entities, including M/s Lord Mahavira Services India Pvt. Ltd. (LMSIPL), had obtained bulk mobile SIM connections from TelecomService Providers in violation of the guidelines issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), and that such SIM cards were thereafter misused for cyber-crime and fraudulent activities. It was revealed that during the years 2024–2025, LMSIPL had obtained 7,721 SIM connections from Vodafone Idea Ltd., which were allegedly used for making fraudulent calls by impersonating officials of TRAI, law-enforcement agencies and other service providers, thereby cheating unsuspecting members of the public. Citizen feedback received through the Chakshu module of the Sanchar Saathi Portal recorded 210 complaints involving 189 mobile numbers linked to LMSIPL. In addition, financial fraud complaints involving a total loss of nearly ₹1 lakh, connected with six mobile numbers, were registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). Although DoT had directed re-verification of these bulk connections, Vodafone Idea Ltd. reported that 5,884 out of 5,886 flagged numbers were found compliant, which appeared unusual in light of the complaints received.resources, amounting to 20,986 mobile connections from Vodafone Idea Ltd. between 2020 and 2025, by using deceitful means. These connections were obtained by furnishing identity documents of individuals projected as employees and end-users, including issuance of multiple SIM cards in the name of single subscribers. Records showed instances where 90 connections were issued for the end use of only 10 persons, and about 1,000 numbers were allotted for merely 143 persons on the basis of declarations made by Director Amardeep Sharma. CDR analysis of the said numbers indicated patterns consistent with SIM-box usage, as some numbers were found to have operated across 203 to 387 IMEIs and had generated one-second automated calls, pointing towards IMEI tampering, machine-to-machine communication and automated calling, all of which are prohibited under DoT guidelines dated 20.05.2024. During verification of NCRP complaints relating to certain mobile numbers through the Samanvaya Portal, it was found that each of the said numbers was linked to complaints of cyber-crime by victims. The preliminary enquiry revealed that both Directors of LMSIPL had obtained bulk SIM cards by providing false end-user lists, and that CDRs showed their usage around the registered address of the company in Delhi and an office premises in Noida. The pattern of IMEI usage suggested that the SIMs were being used in SIM boxes or automated systems capable of masking or switching IMEIs for illegal VoIP termination or mass messaging. It was also found that some of the mobile numbers issued to LMSIPL were directly involved in cyber-crime, as reflected from NCRP complaints. Theenquiry further indicated that unknown officials, distributors or dealers of Vodafone Idea Ltd. may have knowingly facilitated such activations despite clear procedural violations.

5. On the basis of the said information, a Preliminary Enquiry bearing No. PE2212025E0003 was registered. During the enqu