Telangana tops nation with recovery of 1.24 lakh stolen, missing mobile phones
HYDERABAD: Telangana has recovered 1,24,850 stolen or missing mobile phones using the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal, emerging as the top-performing state in the country, according to official data up to April 26, 2026.
The CEIR system, developed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), aims to curb mobile theft and use of counterfeit devices. In Telangana, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) acts as the nodal agency, with the system operational across all 780 police stations.
The portal was launched in pilot states on September 5, 2022, and later introduced in Telangana on April 19, 2023. Despite the delayed rollout, the state has achieved the highest recovery numbers nationally.
Training, monitoring and coordination strengthen implementation
Officials said Telangana adopted a structured approach to ensure effective use of the CEIR platform. Training programmes were conducted for nodal officers and police station operators, both online and in person, to improve adoption.
A state-level core team led by the Superintendent of Police, CID, was formed to resolve technical issues and monitor progress. Regular feedback from districts was shared with the DoT to improve the system.
Police also categorised cases based on recovery difficulty and prioritised traceability reports to speed up retrieval of devices. In cases involving other states, notices under Section 91 of the Code of Criminal Procedure were issued when users failed to return phones.
Citizen access improved through portal integration
Telangana Police integrated the CEIR system with the state police citizen portal, allowing users to report lost or stolen phones online instead of visiting police stations or Mee Seva centres.
Authorities said awareness campaigns were conducted through newspapers, television and social media to encourage citizens to use the platform.
Field-level officers played a key role by tracking devices, contacting current users and returning recovered phones to rightful owners. Officials added that consistent communication between police units, nodal officers and the DoT contributed to the programme’s success.
According to DoT data, Telangana remains among the top-performing states in mobile recovery through the CEIR portal.
