Pune: The main operators of an illegal telephone exchange in Pune's Kondhwa area used cryptocurrency to transfer their earnings abroad, sources from the state anti-terrorism squad ( ATS ) have told TOI, adding that these individuals were likely based out of Haryana's Nuh and other cities in north India. The illegal exchange, operating out of a rented first-floor flat, was busted by the state ATS on Aug 24-25. The raiding team seized 3,788 SIM cards , nine Wi-Fi routers, SIM box antennas, laptops and seven SIM boxes.
They also arrested one person, identified as 32-year-old Naushad Ahmed Siddiqui, who they said was operating the Pune facility. Since then, four more people have been arrested in connection with the case, from parts of Maharashtra and Rajasthan. "The main suspects used cryptocurrencies for all of their international transactions.
They also received crypto from their foreign partners. All domestic payments though, to local operators, were made in Indian Rupees, via transfers to their bank accounts," a senior ATS official said. Authorities said the illegal facility was set up to bypass regular cellular networks in India by using Internet telephony, which allows one to make and receive calls without using traditional or licensed phone networks.
Individuals based in Nuh and Thane's Bhiwandi and other parts of the country were operating such a network to illegally route calls coming to India from foreign countries, the authorities said. "Govt of India charges money for.