Two individuals- one Nepali and another Chinese have been apprehended in Kathmandu for call bypass. The police have started legal proceedings against them for their “illegal act” according to the Telecommunication Act, 2053.
As per the Central Bureau of Investigation, the two were involved in the international call and SMS bypass activities in their location in Mahalakshmi Municipality-5, Tikhathali Kharibot. The police have started an investigation into their outlaw act.
On suspicion of the wrongdoing, the Central Bureau of Investigation Maharajgunj had been searching for a lead for a few days in Tikathali Kharibot, Gorkhapatra writes. The police arrested them while renting a house in Kharibot and engaging in bypassing calls and SMS without permission from the government.
As per the Bureau, the individuals are -Chinese national Zhao Xiangpeng, 32, and Ganesh Shrestha, 22, a resident of Sindhupalchok Tripurasundari living in Kathmandu Metropolitan Municipality-16 Sohrakhutte.
The police have found large amounts of multiple SIM cards, equipment, Nepali, and foreign currency.
Also read: The Supreme Court Rules Call Bypass a Serious Offense
Police seize SIM cards used for call bypass from the Nepali and Chinese individuals’ place of act
The police have seized 3,700 Ncell SIM cards which were purposely for call and SMS bypass. Similarly, they have gathered around Rs 5 lakh and currencies from different countries from the two.
The police have started an investigation under the Telecommunication Act, 2053 with permission from the Lalitpur District Court today. They could face a prison term of up to 5 years.
The government of Nepal has made call bypass illegal but has not been able to stop it completely. In 2022, police arrested two Indian nations for VoIP call bypass.
Call bypass evades traditional routes for international calls and makes them cheaper for end users. But it ends up costing the government revenues while the call quality also remains suspicious of the quality. Most importantly, it is illegal and everyone must stay away from it. If you have any knowledge of such instances in your locality, we suggest you inform your nearest local law enforcement body.
