India's DoT imposes up to ₹50 lakh fine for SIM card misuse

India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued an advisory on September 21, 2026, warning that fraudulent SIM issuance, misuse of telecom identifiers and IMEI tampering can lead to up to 3 years in prison and a fine of up to ₹50 lakh. The move follows a case in Chhattisgarh where a POS agent activated 25 illegal connections without users' consent.

• Penalties reach ₹50 lakh fine and up to 3 years in prison
• Triggered by 25 illegal SIMs activated by an agent in Chhattisgarh
• DoT urged citizens not to share SIM cards with others
• Users can check SIMs and IMEI via the Sanchar Saathi portal