Unauthorized Extraction of Call Detail Records (CDR) is a Cognizable Offense: NIDAAN Intelligence Services Issues Nationwide Public Alert

JAMSHEDPUR, JHARKHAND, INDIA — Accessing or procuring Call Detail Records (CDRs) without explicit statutory authorization constitutes a severe criminal violation under Indian law, warned Mr. Om Prakash, Founder & Managing Director of NIDAAN Intelligence Services (I) Private Limited.

The public advisory aims to alert citizens, corporate entities, and private investigators against the unlawful procurement, sale, or usage of personal telecommunication data.

Unlawful obtaining of CDRs—which include logs of incoming and outgoing calls, duration, SMS records, and cellular tower locations—violates core statutory protections:

The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885: Restricts interception or extraction of telecommunication data exclusively to authorized government agencies under strict legal protocols (Section 5(2)).
The Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000: Sections 43, 66, 66E, and 72A penalize unauthorized data access, privacy violation, and breach of confidentiality with imprisonment and steep financial fines.
Right to Privacy: Violates fundamental privacy rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

“Many individuals and corporate entities unknowingly hire unscrupulous operators to procure phone records for personal disputes, corporate intelligence, or matrimonial checks,” stated Mr. Om Prakash. “Ignorance of the law is no defense. Both the service provider who leaks the data and the client who solicits or purchases it are legally liable for criminal prosecution.”

Advisory for Individuals & Corporates:

Refuse CDR Offers: Never commission or accept illegally obtained call records for personal or corporate investigations.
Verify Legal Frameworks: Ensure all corporate compliance and intelligence operations rely solely on legally admissible, public-domain, or consent-based verification methods.
Report Illegal Activity: Immediately report illicit data brokers or unauthorized privacy violations to cybercrime authorities.

NIDAAN Intelligence Services continues to advocate for strict corporate compliance, ethical risk management, and statutory adherence across all security and investigative practices.