THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, Jan 28: In a major crackdown, Panki police in Jharkhand’s Palamu district have unearthed an illegal unit engaged in the unlicensed refurbishing and assembling of mobile phones. Police described the operation as a clandestine business rather than an entrepreneurship or startup.
The illegal setup, described by police as a “mini factory” or a “garage of cell phones,” was involved in refurbishing and assembling keypad mobile phones without any valid licence to trade.
The seized mobile phones and electronic components were presented to the media during a press conference addressed by Palamu Superintendent of Police (SP) Reeshma Ramesan on Tuesday evening.
Two Youths Arrested
Two youths—Vikalp Kumar Singh (30) and Ranjit Kumar (24), both residents of the Panki block area—were arrested in connection with the case and remanded to judicial custody on Tuesday.
They have been booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Trade Marks Act, and the Environment Conservation Act.
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Large Seizure of Phones and Components
Police seized a large quantity of mobile phone components and assembled devices, including:
- 112 mobile phone motherboards
- 135 Jio keypad mobile phones
- 200 Samsung keypad mobile phones
According to police, the scale of the seizure indicated large-scale refurbishing and assembling activity.
Huge Quantity of E-Waste Recovered
SP Reeshma Ramesan said three bags of electronic waste were recovered from the site, far exceeding what is normally generated during routine repairs.
“The quantity of e-waste recovered clearly shows the extent of assembling work being carried out, which is why sections of the Environment Conservation Act were invoked,” the SP said.
Police said the refurbished and assembled mobile phones, mainly of Jio and Samsung brands, were procured from West Bengal. Many of the phones were reportedly recycled from discarded keypad phones dating back to 2017.
The phones were sold in attractive packaging at prices fixed by the accused, without any warranty.
Illegal Sale Outlets in Daltonganj
Police have identified a few shops in Daltonganj town that were selling these refurbished and assembled phones. Further action is likely as the investigation progresses.
Clarifying the legal aspect, SP Reeshma Ramesan said that repairing or reassembling a mobile phone for personal use is not an offence.
“However, the scale of refurbishing and assembling for commercial sale clearly indicates illegal trading and deception,” she said.
The SP added that had the accused obtained proper licences, their activity could have been legal and they could have operated as genuine employers.
Companies to Decide on Copyright Action
When asked whether Jio and Samsung had been informed, the SP said police officers were in touch with the companies.
“It is up to the companies to initiate criminal proceedings under the Copyright Act. Police cannot do this on their behalf,” she said.
Sources said the phones were popular among members of Sakhi Mandals, migrant workers, and daily wage earners, who preferred cheaper keypad phones and often did not verify their authenticity.
The raid was conducted under the direction of the SP by SDPO Lesliganj Manoj Kumar Jha, Officer-in-Charge Rajesh Ranjan, and their team, leading to the exposure of the illegal operation.
