Kozhikode: In a major development in parallel telephone exchange case registered in Kerala's Kozhikode district, Crime Branch has found out that the key conspirator is Malappuram resident, Ibrahim. The matter came to the fore earlier after Intelligence Bureau informed that a parallel telephone exchange has been operating in disguise in seven spots in the district.
Attempts have been made to bring Ibrahim, arrested in a similar case from Bengaluru, to Kozhikode. The investigation team has also received a tip-off that Ibrahim contacted co-accused Shabeer, Krishnaprasad, Mooriyad residents. The duo are absconding, as per sources.
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Interrogation of one of the accused Jurais during his custody led to the revelation that the team had links with those arrested from Bengaluru in a similar case. The investigation team reached Bengaluru following it.
Central Crime Branch had arrested Ashraf, hailing from Kozhikode in the similar case in Bengaluru. Sources said equipment used for creating parallel telephone exchange in Kozhikode were made in China and those were transported from Bengaluru. 26 SIM boxes, 25 routers, 730 SIM cards were busted from Kozhikode. The investigation team has been probing suspected anti-national links of the exchanges operated in Bengaluru and Kozhikode.
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