Still address proof verification, a incomplete process.

It's the number on everyone's lips since Tuesday evening — 9734695789. The Vodafone number reportedly belongs to Maoist leader Kishanji. This is the number he publicised through media and asked Union home minister P Chidambaram to dial on February 25 for peace negotiations.

An investigation has revealed the number was never registered in the name of Koteswar Rao (Kishanji's actual name). Though vodafone india has not officially confirmed this, sources said the SIM card is registered in the name of Sisir Kanti Nag and was bought at Kharagpur town. The address reportedly registered with vodafone india against this SIM card is: Inda Ward 11, Kharagpur Town, Midnapore West 721301.

According to sources, the pre-paid number was activated on September 18, 2009, and was last recharged on Sunday. The last recharge amount was Rs 333 and the balance on the SIM till 2 pm on Wednesday was Rs 286. The SIM was first activated with Rs 100 and top-ups of Rs 10-30 have been mostly "ordered" by the user.

From 7.30 pm on Tuesday, a long call of over 200 minutes was apparently made from the number. It is clear that a fake name and an incomplete address was provided to acquire the SIM. Worse still, the name and address verification of the holder — a mandatory procedure after a SIM is sold — was done shoddily.

It is difficult to trace which dealer or distributor in Kharagpur town sold the SIM. For 72 hours after the purchase, the dealer's details are available on the company's internal system.