70 teams, 30 locations and 30 arrests – Massive cyber-crime syndicate that conned govt scheme beneficiaries busted

The article reports on a major cross-state cyber-fraud module dubbed “Operation Shutterdown” conducted by the Jhalawar Police in Rajasthan, which uncovered a network siphoning off funds from central and state welfare schemes such as the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi and social security pensions. According to the investigation, criminals used forged identities, sold bank accounts and manipulated beneficiary-verification portals to divert money to over 11,000 fake accounts. The racket was busted by 70 police teams across 30 locations, resulting in 30 arrests, seizure of luxury vehicles, biometric devices, hundreds of SIM cards and cash worth ~₹52 lakh. The mastermind, identified as Ramavatar Saini of Bandikui (Dausa), orchestrated the scheme by harvesting personal data of low-income individuals in Jhalawar and collaborating with operatives in multiple districts. The article emphasises the complexity of modern cyber-fraud that blends identity theft, welfare-scheme manipulation, and coordinated financial crime across jurisdictions, while also highlighting law-enforcement’s evolving response in terms of joint raids, cyber-control rooms and citizen-tip-line integration. (The Indian Express)