For long stymied by the lack of proper verification by cellular service providers before they issue SIM cards, the Mumbai Police have decided to take up the matter with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). Police sources said that the decision was taken after cellular service providers, in a meeting with the police held to discuss the matter, claimed that they were in compliance with DoT guidelines despite Mumbai Police officials stating their fears that criminals are able to take advantage of the lax verification procedures. According to police sources, the meeting was held in December last year. It was attended by senior Mumbai police officers including crime branch officers. Police sources said that the issue has been under discussion for several months, as it has been observed that it has become increasingly easy to procure SIM cards using forged documents. Such SIM cards are typically used for a crime and then discarded. As they have been bought in fake names using forged documents, it is next to impossible to trace the user. [related-post] “We discussed factors such as how SIM cards were easily available, how there was no proper verification of documents submitted and how it is possible for anyone to get a SIM card in different names using forged documents. The prospect of stricter checks and verification was explored but service providers said that their current practices were in line with DoT guidelines,” said an officer. The officer added that after further discussions, it was decided to take up the matter with the DoT. Mumbai police spokesperson DCP Dhananjay Kulkarni confirmed that the meeting with cellular service providers did not yield results and that a decision had been taken to take up the matter with the DoT. “We will soon be writing to DoT asking for stricter verification rules,” he added. gautam.mengle@expressindia.com
