The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Vodafone Area Sales Manager Binu Vidhyadharan. He is accused of helping sell a large number of SIM cards to cyber criminals, which were later used in crimes like phishing and online fraud.
CBI has carried out this action under Operation Chakra-V, which focuses on breaking the technical network of organized cyber crime. In the month of December 2025, CBI had busted an organized phishing network from Delhi-NCR and Chandigarh, which was targeting cyber criminals including foreign gangs. Used to provide them bulk SMS service.
What was revealed in the CBI investigation?
Investigation revealed that around 21,000 SIM cards were obtained wrongly through this network. Three people have already been arrested in this case and are in judicial custody.
During the investigation, CBI came to know about the role of this officer of the telecom company. Binu Vidhyadharan is accused of getting a large number of SIM cards issued through false documents and fake KYC. It is alleged that he sent some people to M/s Lord Mahavira Services India Pvt. Ltd. Showed himself as an employee of and got the KYC completed by submitting his Aadhar card. Members of a family from Bengaluru were also included in these fake employees.
CBI has also received copies of Aadhaar card from the accused. These fraudulently issued SIM cards were being used by cyber criminals to send mass SMS, spread phishing links and dupe people.
Phishing is the biggest weapon to start cyber fraud.
Phishing is the biggest weapon to start cyber fraud, in which people are forced to click links or share information through SMS, call or message on the pretext of loan, investment or any threat. After this the victims get trapped in big online scams and lose money. CBI said that the investigation of the case is still going on.
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