The BJP on Tuesday (December 2, 2025) dismissed the allegation made by the Congress and others that the Sanchar Saathi mobile application will be used to facilitate surveillance of people. It said the app has been designed solely to secure mobile phones and their users, not to access personal data.
At a press conference, BJP MP and spokesperson Sambit Patra said the app had so far helped detect and disconnect about 1.75 crore fraudulent mobile connections, trace close to 26 lakh stolen/missing phones, and recover 7.5 lakh phones.
Why Sanchar Saathi is a state-owned surveillance app that Indian users don’t need
He said Sanchar Saathi cannot read messages, listen to calls, or extract personal data from a user’s device. Responding to the concerns about forced adoption, he reiterated the government’s clarification that installing Sanchar Saathi is optional. “It can be deleted like any other app,” the BJP leader said, adding that only those worried that their malpractices may be detected would never use it.
The BJP leader said the app helps users report suspicious calls, spams, and malicious links, track and recover stolen or lost mobile phones, detect International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) duplications for use in any criminal activity, identify mobile numbers obtained using forged or stolen identities, and flag international calls spoofed as local numbers. The app also has verified helpline numbers for banks and essential services. The app does not engage in passive monitoring or any hidden background activity, said Mr. Patra.
