Police crack BSNL recharge coupon scam

HYDERABAD: Police reportedly cracked the Rs 1.4-crore BSNL pre-paid recharge coupon scam and arrested two persons, including a telecom officer, on Thursday.

After a week-long probe, police arrested P Ramesh, a telecom officer who works at BSNL Bhavan, Lakdi-ka-pul, and U Vijay, who runs a BSNL franchise, Panchajanya Enterprises, in Secunderabad, from their homes here.

 

In 2009, Ramesh stole 26 CDs containing data of 1.3 lakh BSNL recharge numbers from BSNL stores in Adarsh Nagar. Store incharge K Lokanatha Rao failed to detect the theft as Ramesh replaced the original CDs with empty ones, deputy commissioner of police (DCP), Central Zone, Akun Sabharwal told the media.

After stealing the CDs, Ramesh along with Vijay had recharge cards printed at Bhagvathi Printers in Parel, Mumbai, using the numbers contained in the CDs. After printing the recharge cards, the duo sold them through wholesalers and retailers in Hyderabad. The duo made Rs 1.04 crore from the sale of the cards in seven months between November, 2009 and May, 2010, police said.

Ramesh took Rs 70 lakh as his share and Vijay Rs 34 lakh. Ramesh used the money for repaying his loans and perform the marriages of his daughter and son. He also invested some money in real estate. Vijay confessed that using the ill-gotten money he had purchased a piece of land on the outskirts of the city, the DCP added. Police were able to recover Rs 5.6 lakh cash and Rs 3.2 lakh worth of gold from the duo. Earlier this month, acting on the complaint lodged by BSNL, Hyderabad, assistant general manager (stores) Ratna Mohan Rao about missing CDs, a case was registered under sections 380, 409, 420 r/w 34 IPC at the Saifabad police station.

Ramesh and Vijay were arrested and produced before court.