Love on the Run: Aligarh's Mother-in-Law and Son-in-Law Tracked Down via GPS and IMEI Tech

In a bizarre twist of events from Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, a mother-in-law eloped with her soon-to-be son-in-law just days before her daughter’s wedding. The incident, which has captured headlines nationwide, took a high-tech turn when police successfully tracked down the couple using a blend of modern surveillance technology — from GPS and IMEI numbers to call record data.

Here’s how this love-on-the-run saga unfolded — and how today’s digital tools make it nearly impossible to stay hidden.

CDR – The First Digital Trail

The police began with Call Detail Records (CDR), which reveal who called whom, when, and from where. These records, maintained by telecom providers, gave insight into the last location of the suspect’s phone based on the connected mobile towers.

Cell Tower Triangulation – Pinpointing the Area

If a phone is active, it usually connects to at least three nearby towers. Using the strength and angle of these signals, police used triangulation to estimate the exact area the couple was likely hiding in — often within a few hundred meters’ accuracy.

IMEI Number – The Digital Fingerprint

Each mobile device has a unique IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number that remains constant even if the SIM card is swapped. By tracing this number, police could follow the device’s activity and narrow down the couple’s movements.

GPS – The Exact Location Provider

Modern smartphones come equipped with GPS (Global Positioning System), which connects with satellites to pinpoint a device’s exact location. If location services were turned on, background apps would send this data to the network — giving police precise tracking capabilities.

SIM Registration and Last Activity Logs

SIM cards are registered with an individual’s ID in India. If the couple tried to hide using a new SIM, telecom companies could still track them using registration data. Even if the phone was switched off, service providers could share the last known active location of the device.

Technology Leaves No Room to Hide

This Aligarh case is a striking example of how advanced tech tools have transformed law enforcement. With resources like IMEI tracking, GPS, CDR analysis, and tower triangulation, escaping the radar is now nearly impossible — even for the most unlikely fugitives.