Digital Scoop India Official Platform of Digital Scoop India Featuring Latest & Best News #Articles #Bytes #Entertainment #DigitalScoopMagazine
Related Articles
An American citizen, identified as Joshua Ivan Richardson, was arrested at Jollygrant Airport in Dehradun on Sunday after a satellite phone was found in his luggage during a routine security check. The arrest has drawn attention to the strict regulations governing the use of satellite phones in India.
Richardson, a resident of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, had arrived in India on an e-tourist visa and was staying with a friend in Rishikesh. He was attempting to board a flight to Delhi around 2 pm on Sunday when Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel detected the satellite phone during the screening process. The phone was immediately confiscated, and the matter was handed over to the police.
Officials confirmed that the use of satellite phones, except for those provided by BSNL under the Inmarsat Satellite Handset (ISAT Phone) service, is illegal in India. The violation of this law led to the registration of a case against Richardson at the Doiwala police station under relevant sections of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933.
CISF Sub-Inspector Madhu Yadav, in his complaint, stated that during the routine security check, a satellite phone was recovered from Richardson, who, according to the police, claimed he was unaware of India’s laws regarding the use of satellite phones. Richardson reportedly mentioned that satellite phones are commonly used in the United States, suggesting that his actions were unintentional.
Dehradun Superintendent of Police (Rural) Jaya Baloni further clarified that there seemed to be no malicious intent behind the American citizen’s possession of the phone. However, she emphasized that an investigation into the matter is still ongoing.
Richardson was produced in a local court on Tuesday and was remanded to judicial custody. The incident highlights the importance of travelers being aware of local laws, especially when it comes to the use of communication devices in foreign countries.
This is not the first such incident at Jollygrant Airport. In November 2022, a former Russian agriculture minister was arrested after being caught with a satellite phone during a routine security screening at the same airport.
As the investigation continues, authorities are reminding travelers to comply with India’s regulations regarding communication devices and to ensure they do not inadvertently violate laws while traveling.
Sources By Agencies
