Police seize 3 satellite phones from a news firm

After a brief spell of silence, the Special Cell of the Delhi Police has seized three Thuraya satellite phones from a news broadcasting firm which was, allegedly, using the gadgets without permission. HT reports.

After a brief spell of silence, the Special Cell of the Delhi Police has seized three Thuraya satellite phones from a news broadcasting firm which was, allegedly, using the gadgets without permission.

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“The seizure came following an intelligence input that a satellite phone was being used to contact Delhi mobile numbers” said Arun Kampani, deputy commissioner of Police (special cell).

Use of satellite phone sets in India is illegal without prior permission from the Department of Telecommunication (DoT). According to police, the satellite phone set belonged to a broadcasting channel.

When questioned, police said that the authorised officer of the channel told them that the channel covers news in South Asia. During emergency, their Delhi office uses these three official satellite phones.

“The satellite phones were seized as the firm was unable to produce any official permission from the DoT. Accordingly, a Non-congnisable report of the Indian Telegraph Act has been registered and further investigations into the matter are underway,” DCP Kampani added.