The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Binu Vidhyadharan, Vodafone Area Sales Manager for Delhi, on January 8, 2026. He is accused of illegal sale of around 21,000 SIM cards used in cybercrimes. The CBI identified this during Operation Chakra-V. In December 2025, the CBI found a phishing network operating near Delhi and Chandigarh. This network supplied bulk SMS services to cybercriminals, including foreign groups targeting Indian citizens. “Phishing is the first key step in most cyber frauds. It uses mass SMSes, calls, or messages to lure victims with false offers of loans, investments, or threats,” the CBI said. The accused arranged fake individuals to complete KYC formalities. They were falsely shown as employees of Lord Mahavira Services India Private Limited. The CBI recovered Aadhaar card copies of a Bengaluru family used in the fraud. Earlier, in December 2025, three persons including a channel partner of the telecom service provider were arrested and are now in judicial custody. The SIM cards were used for sending phishing messages in bulk. The fraudulent SIM sales violated Department of Telecom rules. Mr. Vidhyadharan’s alleged role emerged during further investigation. The CBI continues its probe into this organised cybercrime network.