In a significant development, the Sessions Court of Greater Bombay denied the anticipatory bail application of Sandeep Ramshiromani Yadav, a 25-year-old resident of Uttar Pradesh, accused of orchestrating a major online fraud involving the misuse of SIM cards. The case, which has garnered public attention due to its audacious nature, revolves around a scam that exploited unsuspecting individuals through fake loan approvals under the guise of a reputable financial institution.
Yadav, originally from Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, is accused of being a key player in the scam, along with two accomplices, one of whom posed as an employee of Bajaj Finance. The accused used SIM cards provided to Yadav as part of his job with Airtel, where he was responsible for distributing the cards to legitimate subscribers. Instead, these SIM cards were unlawfully handed over to his co-conspirators, who used them to carry out the fraudulent activities.
The scam came to light when Kumar Sangharsha Fatebahadur Singh, the complainant, reported being defrauded of a significant amount of money. Singh received a phone call from a woman, identified as Sheetal Shinde, claiming to represent Bajaj Finance. She offered him a loan, which he initially declined. However, due to a later need for financing, Singh contacted her and provided personal documents, including his Aadhaar card, PAN card, and proof of residence. Over a series of phone calls, Shinde convinced Singh to transfer money under the pretense of processing fees for a loan of ₹3,50,000.
Singh initially transferred ₹15,000 and then an additional ₹30,000 as per Shinde’s instructions. When she demanded a further ₹20,000, Singh grew suspicious and realized he was being scammed. The police investigation traced one of the SIM cards used in the fraud back to Yadav, who had allegedly sold it illegally.
In court, Yadav’s defense argued that he was being falsely implicated and had no direct involvement in the fraud. His lawyers pointed out that the two co-accused had already been arrested and released on bail. They contended that Yadav was willing to cooperate with the investigation and that there was no need for his custodial interrogation.
However, the prosecution argued that Yadav had been absconding since the crime was reported and had not cooperated with the police despite being served with a notice under Section 41-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr.P.C.). The court was presented with evidence linking Yadav to the crime, including the misuse of the SIM cards he was responsible for as an Airtel agent. The prosecution further emphasized that the fraud had serious implications, involving multiple victims and substantial financial losses.
After reviewing the evidence, Additional Sessions Judge S.M. Tapkire rejected Yadav’s anticipatory bail application, stating that his custodial interrogation was essential for uncovering the full scope of the scam. The judge noted that Yadav’s absconding behavior, failure to cooperate with the authorities, and lack of a permanent residence in Mumbai raised serious concerns about his intentions.
The rejection of Yadav’s bail application has been met with approval from both the police and the victims of the scam. The case highlights the growing issue of SIM card-related fraud in India, where criminals exploit loopholes in the distribution and sale of mobile numbers to carry out financial crimes. With Yadav’s arrest imminent, law enforcement agencies are hopeful that the investigation will soon reveal the full extent of the scam and lead to further arrests of those involved.
This case serves as a reminder of the need for stricter regulations and oversight in the telecom industry, particularly regarding the distribution of SIM cards, to prevent such fraudulent schemes in the future.
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