Jharkhand and Bihar have been in the grip of a major SIM cards scam, revealed investigations by the Department of Telecommunications( DoT) revealed.

After nearly seven crore SIM subscribers' facial data of Bihar and Jharkhand were analysed and actionable intelligence compiled, DoT has deactivated more than 2.25 lakh mobile phone numbers in Bihar and Jharkhand in the month of April.

Notably,  a majority of the SIM cards were allegedly procured through forged documents, claimed DoT, according to moneycontrol.com.

“The Telecom Service Providers have also blacklisted 517 Point of Sales (PoS) who have been prima facie found to be involved in unethical and illegal practices while issuing SIM cards”, states a PTI report published by money control.com

Alongside,a statement issued by the Special Director General Telecom, DoT (Licensed Service Areas-LSA-Bihar) here, "In the month of April 2023 itself, more than 2.25 lakh mobile numbers have been deactivated in both states. The majority of the SIM cards were procured through illegal/unethical means.

"Besides, 517 PoS have been blacklisted as they were found to be involved in unethical and illegal practices while issuing SIM cards. The Telecom Service Providers are further initiating legal proceedings against the fraudulent PoS as well as subscribers".

Jharkhand also comes under the jurisdiction of DoT's LSA (Bihar).

"The DoT, Patna Office is also in touch with the state police and has shared the intelligence devised out of artificial intelligence and facial recognition powered solution for telecom SIM Subscriber Verification (ASTR) analysis. The state police has also assured that suitable action will be initiated against SIM fraudsters (PoS/Subscribers)",PTI report states.