The Crime Branch (CB) squad probing the parallel telephone exchange case has zeroed in on some of the Information Technology (IT) firms in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts, which are suspected of having involvement in designing special purpose software for illegal operators.
Records recently recovered from two such firms in these districts confirm that the software has been used by the underground communication network operators to calculate the user fee of the illegal subscribers from various countries. Though the designers have reportedly claimed ignorance of the criminal motive behind the software purchase, action is likely against them on completion of further investigation and the analysis of the seized records.
The details of using the special software came to light after a six-month long probe into the incident by various investigation teams. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is also keen on the case after the CB probe has managed to expose illegal communication channel links with extremist elements and smugglers in different countries.
It was on July 2 that the police with the support of a team of 23 officers exposed the parallel telephone exchanges in eight locations in Kozhikode and arrested P. Jurise, 26, one of the key operators. More than 700 SIM cards and imported call routers had been seized from a rented facility which acted as an illegal telephone exchange. Though three of the suspects were at large, the arrested youth had given his statements in such a way to help the police make headway in the investigation.
An important finding of the CB squad was the involvement of a Kerala-based gang in all the previously exposed parallel telephone exchanges in various south Indian States. A Malappuram native, who was earlier convicted for running a parallel telephone exchange in Bengaluru, was found to be involved in the case exposed from Kozhikode district as well. He had also been accused of facilitating illegal communication using the network between Pakistan-based intelligence operatives and Indians.
The uncovering of the gold smugglers’ dependence on the clandestine network was also a turning point for the investigation team to broaden their search for more kingpins in the chain. A Thodupuzha native, who was earlier arrested by the Telangana police for his suspicious role in running a parallel exchange in the State, had been found maintaining close links with a Malappuram native who was found to be the mastermind of gold smuggling incidents in Kerala.
