Udupi: mobile retailers hand over blacklisted phones to police over lack of documents

Udupi: mobile retailers hand over blacklisted phones to police over lack of documents

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, May 28, 2026: Mobile phones lacking proper ownership documents, which were brought for sale by unidentified persons at mobile shops in Udupi district, were handed over to Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar by office-bearers of the Udupi District Mobile Retailers Association on Wednesday.

According to the association, shop owners became suspicious when unknown individuals approached them to sell mobile phones. The devices were checked through the Sanchar Saathi app, which revealed that the phones had been blacklisted. When the sellers were asked to produce valid ownership documents, they failed to provide any, raising further suspicion.

A total of seven such mobile phones were handed over to the police by association president Vivek G. Suvarna and members Ranjith Shetty, Sandesh, Sudarshan, Ganesh and Abhishek at the district police office.

SP Hariram Shankar said the original owners of the phones would be traced through the CEIR portal and the devices would be returned to them after following legal procedures.

The SP also advised mobile shop owners to verify devices through the Sanchar Saathi app whenever unknown persons approach them to sell phones. He cautioned shop owners against using their personal SIM cards for verification and instead asked them to use the SIM card of the customer offering the device for sale.

He further urged shop owners not to purchase or accept mobile phones without proper documentation and to immediately inform the nearest police station if they come across suspicious transactions or attempts to sell such devices.