Operation Shutterdown: 70 teams raid 30 locations to bust massive cybercrime syndicate defrauding government schemes

In a major breakthrough, the Jhalawar Police dismantled a large inter-state cybercrime syndicate that allegedly siphoned off funds from central and state government welfare schemes meant for farmers, pensioners, and low-income beneficiaries.

The operation, named ‘Operation Shutterdown,’ exposed a racket that used forged identities and fake accounts to claim benefits under schemes such as the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Social Security Pensions, and several compensation programmes. The funds were withdrawn through accounts spread across Jodhpur, Kota, Bundi, and Dausa, with personal data reportedly sourced from Jhalawar.

Police have arrested 30 people, including the alleged mastermind Ramavatar Saini from Bandikui in Dausa. Authorities also seized ₹52 lakh in cash, luxury vehicles, 35 computers, biometric devices, hundreds of SIM cards, and documents linked to over 11,000 bank accounts. The total seizure is valued at over ₹3 crore.

Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar Budaniya credited a toll-free number launched for citizens to share information confidentially as key to cracking the case. A tip-off received on August 8, 2025, led to the registration of a cyber fraud complaint.

Constable Ravi Sen was initially assigned to the case. His investigation revealed that multiple bank accounts were linked to a single mobile number, with suspicious treasury deposits and immediate withdrawals. As the probe expanded, Constable Sumit Kumar joined the investigation.

Further inquiry revealed that some individuals in remote villages like Manoharthana and Dangipura were selling their bank accounts and identity documents to others who then claimed fake government benefits. This led police to uncover links between Asik Ali, Rajulal Saini, and Jhalawar operatives Parmanand Meena, Mahaveer Pareta, and Sunil Sahu, who maintained active contact with the alleged kingpin, Ramavatar Saini.

A detailed data analysis exposed a network of fraudulent financial activity involving Bihari Goyal, Shivnarayan, Dhirap, Raju, and Rambabu from the Aklera-Manoharthana region. Their bank statements showed a clear pattern of organized fraud across districts.

Investigators found that Saini possessed in-depth knowledge of several welfare and pension portals, including the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Disaster Management Information System (DMIS), and Land Seeding Verification Systems. By exploiting these platforms, he and his associates collected citizens’ bank and ID details under the pretense of helping them access benefits. They manipulated data on official portals to show ineligible individuals as verified beneficiaries, diverting treasury funds into fraudulent accounts. The gang reportedly kept 50–75% as commission from each transaction.

Following weeks of surveillance, 70 police teams conducted simultaneous raids across 30 locations in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, covering more than 700 kilometers. A Cyber Control Room at the Jhalawar Police Headquarters monitored the raids in real time to ensure coordination and prevent evidence destruction.

Due to the magnitude of the scam, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted under DySPs Prem Kumar, Harshraj Singh Khareda, and Manoj Soni. The State Bank of India also formed a four-member team led by Chief Manager Om Prakash Sharma to analyse the fraudulent accounts and trace the money trail.

SP Amit Kumar Budaniya praised the role of citizen cooperation and proactive intelligence sharing in the success of Operation Shutterdown. He assured that the identity of the informant would remain confidential and commended the dedication of the officers who executed the large-scale operation.