'Sanchar Saathi App Not Mandatory, Users Can Delete It': Telecom Minister's Clarification Amid Row

Union Minister for Telecom and Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday clarified that the Sanchar Saathi app remains completely optional amid the ongoing controversy. He said the app can be deleted at any time and functions only after a user chooses to activate it.

Scindia added that the government’s role is limited to making the app available as a tool for public safety. “Keeping it on their devices or not is entirely up to users,” he said, rejecting claims of mandatory installation.

While addressing the concerns surrounding the Sanchar Saathi app, he emphasising its role in consumer safety and fraud prevention. He dismissed criticisms from the opposition, stating that the government’s focus is on protecting users rather than responding

to political debates.

Scindia highlighted that the Sanchar Saathi portal has been downloaded over 20 crore times, while the app itself has more than 1.5 crore downloads. He noted its practical impact, including the disconnection of nearly 1.75 crore fraudulent mobile connections and the tracing of around 20 lakh stolen phones, with approximately 7.5 lakh returned to their rightful owners.

The minister clarified that the app does not enable call monitoring or snooping. Users have full control over its activation and can delete it anytime, making it completely optional. “Our duty is to help the consumers and ensure their safety. The Sanchar Saathi app enables every consumer to ensure their safety. Sanchar Saathi portal has more than 20 crore downloads, and the app has more than 1.5 crore downloads. Sanchar Saathi has enabled the disconnection of nearly 1.75 crore fraudulent mobile connections. Around 20 lakh stolen phones have been traced, and around 7.5 lakh stolen phones have been handed over to their owners, all because of Sanchar Saathi. This app does not enable snooping or call monitoring,” said Scindia.

Scindia also addressed misconceptions, underlining that while the government encourages the use of Sanchar Saathi, keeping it on a device is entirely up to the user. He compared it to any other mobile app that can be installed or removed at will, reiterating that the initiative is aimed solely at protecting users and combating telecom fraud.

“If you don’t want Sanchar Saathi, you can delete it. It is optional. It is about customer protection. I want to clear all misconceptions. It is our duty to introduce this app to everyone. Keeping it on their devices or not is up upto the user. It can be deleted from the mobile phone just like any other app,” the Telecom Minister further added.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Amit Malviya urged people not to fall for “fake news” about the Sanchar Saathi app, stressing that it is not a surveillance tool. He said the app cannot read messages, listen to calls, or access personal data, and is designed purely to enhance telecom safety.

Don’t spread or fall for FAKE NEWS ON Sanchar Saathi aap.

Is the mandate to pre-install Sanchar Saathi a way for the government to snoop on your phone?

Short answer: No.
Sanchar Saathi cannot read your messages, listen to your calls, or access your personal data.

Sanchar… pic.twitter.com/tlWETseWGv

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) December 2, 2025 " rel="nofollow">http://

Don’t spread or fall for FAKE NEWS ON Sanchar Saathi aap.

Is the mandate to pre-install Sanchar Saathi a way for the government to snoop on your phone?

Short answer: No.
Sanchar Saathi cannot read your messages, listen to your calls, or access your personal data.

Sanchar… pic.twitter.com/tlWETseWGv

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) December 2, 2025

Malviya highlighted that Sanchar Saathi helps users report spam, block stolen phones, detect spoofed calls, and verify SIMs issued in their name. With rising cybercrime, he said the platform is essential, noting millions of devices blocked or traced and fraud attempts prevented. He called it a security safeguard, not a monitoring system.