Strict rules needed for issuing SIMs: Experts

Legal experts and senior police officials are of the view that stringent standard operating procedure (SOP) needs to be put in place while issuing SIM cards. An ex-IPS official also said action should be taken against the cellphone companies to end irregularities.

Investigations into the SIM card racket busted by the Meghwadi police have revealed that the two accused who activated 150 prepaid SIM cards of Tata Docomo and Idea claimed that ‘no house verification’ is required to issue prepaid SIM cards and a house verification is done while giving postpaid SIM cards. While issuing prepaid SIM cards, the customer gets a phone call from the company and he/she has to give an alternate number, the accused said during interrogation.

Former additional director general, P.K. Jain said, “The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has made very stringent rules in this matter. It is surprising how SIM cards can be activated without the house verification process. Some action needs to be taken against the mobile networking company as well.”

Retired ACP, LLB, Iqbal Shaikh said, “Vicarious liability in civil suits holds an owner responsible for the act of his subordinate. But it is not in criminal law. But a person whose genuine document has been misused can definitely register a case against the company. A stringent SOP needs to be in place.”

Senior lawyer and activist Abha Singh said, “Apart from the accused, action needs to be taken on the senior official who is entrusted with the work of house verification and cross checking the documents produced by the agents. A strict Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) needs to be in place to ensure such loopholes are not exploited by anti-national elements and criminals.

”When The Asian Age contacted joint commissioner of police, law and order, Deven Bharti, in charge of all the police stations, he said, “ It’s a serious issue. I will look into this case. If anyone is guilty (from the company), appropriate action shall be initiated.”

In the past five years, the Maharashtra police has come across several such cases where criminals have made use of forged SIM cards to commit crimes.