INCOME TAX21 Sept 2026
SIM card misuse can attract ₹50 lakh fine, 3-year jail: DoT warns users, here’s what you should check | Mint
DoT has warned that fraudulent SIM issuance, misuse of telecom identifiers and tampering with IMEI (the device's unique identity number) can attract up to three years in jail and a ₹50 lakh fine under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. This affects every mobile user, especially anyone who handed over a SIM in their name. Check your connections on Sanchar Saathi.
Key Statutory Highlights
- The Department of Telecommunications says fraudulent SIM issuance, misuse of telecom identifiers and IMEI tampering may attract imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to ₹50 lakh.
- Citizens can check all mobile numbers linked to their identity through the Sanchar Saathi portal or mobile app.
- In a Chhattisgarh case, a Point of Sale agent allegedly activated 25 mobile connections using citizens' identification documents without their knowledge or consent.
Actionable Advice for Taxpayers / Founders:Check the mobile connections issued in your name on the Sanchar Saathi portal or app, and if you spot a number you do not recognise, consider reporting it to DoT or your telecom operator so it can be re-verified.
Statutory Disclaimer: TaxQue Shorts are AI-assisted editorial briefs for compliance awareness. This brief has not passed every source check; confirm the original notification before acting. This does not constitute formal legal or CA counsel.
TaxQue News Desk
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