A Kolkata lawyer’s thoughtful anniversary gift, a Rs 49,000 smartphone unravels into a legal ordeal
From Celebration to Chaos: The Anniversary Gift That Backfired
In February 2025, a lawyer from Kolkata’s Salt Lake area decided to surprise his wife with a premium smartphone worth ₹49,000. Purchased from a reputed store in Mission Row Extension, the phone came sealed, complete with a GST invoice, everything about it screamed “brand new.” It was meant to be a symbol of love and celebration.
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But weeks later, the couple’s joy turned into disbelief when officers from Gujarat’s Rajkot Police knocked on their door. The reason? The phone’s IMEI number had been flagged in an ongoing cybercrime investigation. According to police sources, the device matched one used in a major online fraud case.
The lawyer and his wife, stunned by the accusation, insisted they had purchased the phone legally and had no connection to any criminal activity. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the lawyer filed a formal complaint at Hare Street Police Station, which was later transferred to Bowbazar Police Station, the jurisdiction under which the store falls.
The IMEI Trail: How One Number Sparked a Cross-State Investigation
The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number is a unique identifier for every mobile device. It’s what allowed Rajkot Police to trace the phone back to a cybercrime case. The moment the phone was activated, its IMEI pinged law enforcement systems, triggering the investigation.
Initial scrutiny of the store’s documentation revealed no irregularities. However, the focus quickly shifted to the distributor who supplied the device. Investigators are now probing whether the phone was previously tampered with, reused, or repackaged before being sold as new.
The phone has since been seized and sent for forensic analysis to determine its ownership history. Authorities are also exploring whether this was an isolated incident or part of a larger scam involving the resale of compromised mobile phones.
A senior officer involved in the case remarked, “This could be the tip of the iceberg. If there’s an organized racket behind this, it poses a serious threat to unsuspecting buyers. People believe they are buying new, sealed phones but they could be walking into a legal trap.”
Legal Fallout and Consumer Protection Concerns
This incident has sparked widespread concern about consumer rights and the integrity of mobile phone retail practices. Legal experts suggest that if the phone was knowingly sold despite its criminal history, it could lead to serious charges against the vendor and distributor.
The case also highlights the need for stricter regulations and transparency in the mobile phone supply chain. Should forensic analysis confirm that the phone was previously used in a crime, it could set a precedent for how such cases are handled in the future.
For the lawyer and his wife, what was meant to be a joyful celebration has turned into a prolonged ordeal. They now await the results of the investigation, hoping for clarity and justice.
Conclusion:
This bizarre and unsettling episode underscores the importance of vigilance in consumer purchases, especially when it comes to electronics. As authorities dig deeper into the case, it may well lead to reforms in how mobile phones are tracked, sold, and verified. Until then, buyers beware: even a sealed box may hide a storm.
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