Mumbai police have recovered 100 stolen or lost mobile phones worth Rs 22.7 lakh through technical tracking on the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal, with 18 devices already returned to complainants and the remaining phones in the process of being handed back.
The recovery was carried out by Kasturba Marg police after complaints were received within the jurisdiction of the police station. Investigators analysed the mobile phones’ specifications, International Mobile Equipment Identity numbers and user information to trace the devices.
According to the report, the inquiry extended beyond Mumbai to other parts of Maharashtra and other states. This indicates that the recovery process was not limited to the locations where the complaints were filed or where the devices were initially reported missing.
The police used the CEIR portal as part of the technical investigation. The portal-based process enabled investigators to work with device-specific details, including IMEI numbers, while examining user information connected to the phones. The report does not provide further details on the individual recovery locations or the number of cases linked to each area.
Of the 100 phones recovered, 18 have so far been returned to their owners. The remaining devices are awaiting the completion of the process required for their return to the respective complainants. The police have not disclosed a separate timeline for completing the handover of all recovered phones.
The operation places the recovery of lost and stolen mobile phones within a wider digital policing workflow. Instead of treating each complaint as an isolated incident, officers used the technical specifications and identity numbers of the devices to conduct inquiries across jurisdictions. That approach was particularly relevant in this case because the phones were traced across Mumbai, other parts of Maharashtra and locations outside the state.
For complainants, the immediate outcome is the recovery of devices with a combined reported value of Rs 22.7 lakh. The return of 18 phones has been completed, while other owners remain part of the ongoing handover process. The supplied report does not specify whether the recovered devices were linked to arrests or identify any suspects.
The Kasturba Marg police investigation also highlights the administrative coordination required when mobile phones reported lost or stolen are found outside the original police station’s jurisdiction. The report says inquiries were conducted across Mumbai, Maharashtra and other states, but does not provide details of the agencies or police units involved in those inquiries.
The remaining phones are expected to be returned to their owners after the police complete the necessary process. No further operational details or deadline for the handover were provided in the report.
