Properties Linked to Former BSNL SDE Swarnjeet Singh; ED Alleges Illegal Routing of 63.37 Crore Bulk SMS Messages
Chandigarh, September 5: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Chandigarh Zonal Office-I, has provisionally attached seven immovable properties valued at approximately ₹1.50 crore under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with a money-laundering investigation against Swarnjeet Singh, then SDE (SMSC), BSNL, Chandigarh, and others.
According to the ED, the investigation was initiated on the basis of an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Chandigarh, against Swarnjeet Singh, M/s Doorsteps Solutions and others.
Alleged Unauthorised Access to BSNL Infrastructure
The ED investigation allegedly revealed that Swarnjeet Singh, in criminal conspiracy with Saurabh Tyagi, Marconi James Macwan and Preeti Gohel, facilitated unauthorised access to BSNL’s SMSC infrastructure.
The agency alleged that the unauthorised access enabled bulk SMS traffic to be routed by bypassing the mandatory DLT/TrAI platform and the prescribed billing mechanism.
63.37 Crore Bulk SMS Messages Allegedly Routed Illegally
Further investigation by the ED revealed that approximately 63.37 crore bulk push SMS messages were allegedly illegally routed through BSNL’s SMSCs.
The agency estimated that the alleged activity resulted in a revenue loss of ₹5.42 crore to BSNL, including approximately ₹4.05 crore towards interconnection usage charges.
The investigation also found that M/s Smart Technology, M/s Doorsteps Solutions and their partners allegedly availed themselves of unauthorised bulk SMS services at rates below the prevailing market rates and derived financial benefits from the arrangement.
Properties Located in Punjab and Gujarat
The properties provisionally attached by the ED include agricultural land in SAS Nagar (Mohali), Punjab, along with residential and commercial properties in Vadodara, Gujarat.
With the latest attachment, the total value of properties attached in the case has reached approximately ₹2.30 crore, the ED said.
Proceeds of Crime Estimated at ₹6.47 Crore
According to the agency, the proceeds of crime quantified at the present stage of investigation amount to approximately ₹6.47 crore.
The ED had earlier, on March 27, 2025, provisionally attached property worth approximately ₹80 lakh in connection with the case.
The enforcement agency said that further investigation is under progress.(KNC)
