116 EXPENSIVE STOLEN/SNATCHED PHONES RECOVERED, TRAFFICKED VIA KOLKATA TO BANGLADESH

Face2News/New Delhi

On 18.12.2025, an incident of snatching was reported at Police Station Patel Nagar. The complainant stated that while she was walking from Kalinga Chowk, Patel Nagar towards China Chowk on Sita Ram Chaddha Marg, West Patel Nagar, and was holding her mobile phone (iPhone 16 Pro) in her hand, two unknown persons approached her from behind on a black-coloured electric scooty. The pillion rider forcibly snatched her mobile phone, and both accused persons fled towards West Patel Nagar.

On 19.12.2025, message was received on the mobile phone of the complainant’s friend. Thereafter, Technical analysis of the mobile number from which the aforesaid WhatsApp message was sent was conducted. During analysis, it was revealed that the SIM card was registered in the name of Star Wire India Ltd. Further verification established that the said SIM card was issued to an employee of Star Wire India Ltd., whose mobile phone had earlier been stolen near Kashmiri Gate Metro Station.

Subsequently, on 27.12.2025, on the basis of technical surveillance, the location of the suspected persons was traced near Brahampuri, in the vicinity of Jafrabad Metro Station. Acting upon the technical inputs and local intelligence, sustained efforts were made to identify and trace the suspects. After continuous efforts spanning approximately 4–5 hours, a reliable informer was developed, who disclosed that two persons, namely Sameer and Salman, were involved in the purchase and trafficking of stolen and snatched mobile phones.

The informer further disclosed that the said accused persons unlock stolen mobile phones using specialised software and, with the assistance of their associates, smuggle the devices to Bangladesh thereby earning substantial illegal profits. Acting upon the technical surveillance inputs and informer information, both accused persons, namely Sameer and Salman, were apprehended near Babarpur–Maujpur Metro Station.

During sustained interrogation, the apprehended persons disclosed their identities as Sameer @ Rahul, R/o Maujpur, Delhi, aged about 28 years; and Salman, R/o Chauhan Bangar, Delhi, aged about 28 years.

During interrogation, accused Sameer @ Rahul disclosed that he was actively involved in the illegal trade of stolen mobile phones. He stated that after coming into contact with known criminals in the year 2022, he started purchasing stolen iPhones and Android mobile phones and illegally unlocking/bypassing their security locks using technical software and tools, including 3u Tools, Unlock Tools, and other mobile unlocking software sourced from Bangladesh.

Accused Sameer further disclosed that his associates, namely Ayaan, Salman, and Dilshad, used to supply stolen mobile phones to him. After unlocking the said devices, he would return them to his associates, who thereafter arranged for their transportation through middlemen to Bangladesh for illegal monetary gain.

The accused further admitted that, apart from unlocking mobile phones procured by him, he used to charge an amount of up to ₹1,500/- per handset from other persons for illegally unlocking mobile phones brought to him.

The accused further disclosed that approximately 15–20 days prior to his apprehension, one Motorola mobile phone was sold to him for an amount of ₹1,000/- by one Raghav Kana, a known criminal. He stated that by using a VI SIM card installed in the said mobile phone, he used to send deceptive messages to the owners of stolen mobile phones, falsely informing them that their devices had been recovered at an Apple Store and inducing them to remove their iCloud IDs on the pretext of collecting the phones. Once the iCloud security was removed and the device unlocked, the mobile phones were sold at a higher price for illegal monetary gain.

The accused further disclosed that he was acting in connivance with known criminals, namely Rahul Badal and his associates, who were actively involved in theft and snatching of mobile phones.

Further, on the instance of accused Sameer @ Rahul, a recovery was effected of 30 expensive stolen/snatched mobile phones and one Aadhaar card from the dickey of a TVS Scooty NTORQ bearing registration No. DL5SCN-**, which was found parked at Gurudwara Mohalla, Maujpur, Delhi.

Further, on the instance of accused Salman, 12 expensive stolen/snatched mobile phones were recovered from his residence.

Mr. Nidhin Valsan, IPS, DCP, Central, said, on the disclosure and at the instance of accused Sameer @ Rahul, accused Ayaan, R/o Chauhan Bangar, Delhi, aged about 28 years, was apprehended from the area of Brahampuri, Delhi, while he was waiting to purchase mobile phones from thieves/snatchers. At the time of his apprehension, a black-coloured bag was recovered from his possession, and upon its checking, 6 (six) expensive stolen/snatched mobile phones were found therein.

Thereafter, during further interrogation and at the instance of the accused Ayaan, a recovery of 46 additional expensive stolen/snatched mobile phones was effected from his residential premises. The said mobile phones were found packed and kept ready for dispatch through Kolkata to Bangladesh. Thus, a total of 52 expensive stolen/snatched mobile phones were recovered from the possession of accused Ayaan.

Further, on the disclosure and at the instance of accused Salman, accused Dilshad Yasin Kureshi, R/o Rajeev Nagar, Bhalswa Dairy, Delhi, aged about 33 years, was apprehended from his residence. Upon conducting a search of the premises, 22 expensive stolen/snatched mobile phones were recovered from his possession.

The accused identified as Sameer @ Rahul, Age 28 Years: R/o Moujpur Delhi. (Mastermind).  Salman, Age 28 Years: R/o Chauhan Bangur, Delhi.Dilshad Yasin Kureshi, Age 33 Years: R/o Rajeev Nagar, Bhalswa Dairy, Delhi.and Ayaan, Age 28 Years: R/o Chauhan Bangar, Delhi. 

12 more cases are found to be linked with this case.

Further investigation is in progress to establish the linkage of all remaining stolen/snatched mobile phones and to completely dismantle the organised criminal network operating within Delhi and in other parts of the country.