Rajasthan cyber crackdown: 1.37 lakh SIMs blocked, 27 arrested in Alwar-Deeg ops
Synopsis
Rajasthan Police have blocked over 1.37 lakh SIM cards and arrested 27 cyber criminals in a sweeping crackdown across Alwar and Deeg — making Alwar the top district in India for SIM-blocking action. With active hotspots nearly halved since January and transaction-freeze success rates rising, the state is building a replicable anti-cybercrime model from its most vulnerable border districts.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan Police blocked 1,37,522 suspicious SIM cards and 53,536 IMEI numbers through the Pratibimb portal , making Alwar the top district nationally for such action.
27 cyber criminals , including 6 wanted accused, were arrested in a two-day raid in Deeg on 15–16 July 2026 .
Active cybercrime hotspots in Alwar dropped from 1,240 in January 2026 to 689 in June 2026 . ₹22 lakh refunded to victims; ₹60 lakh frozen out of ₹1.25 crore siphoned in one case at Vaishali Nagar .
Transaction-freeze success rate improved from 16.41% to 27.67% through helplines 8764874306 and 1930 .
3,313 cyber awareness programmes conducted, reaching over 2.25 lakh citizens.
Rajasthan Police have launched a sweeping statewide crackdown on cybercrime networks, blocking over 1.37 lakh suspicious SIM cards and arresting more than 27 cyber criminals in coordinated operations across the border districts of Alwar and Deeg. The offensive was ordered by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma to dismantle organised fraud rings exploiting these districts as operational bases.
Scale of the Crackdown
Under the command of Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar Sharma and the oversight of Additional Director General of Police (Cyber Crime) V.K. Singh, police teams deployed technical surveillance and financial intelligence to disable fraudster infrastructure. Through the Pratibimb portal, Alwar Police blocked 1,37,522 suspicious SIM cards and 53,536 mobile IMEI numbers — figures that make Alwar the highest-performing district in the country for such action, according to officials.
Active cybercrime hotspots in Alwar fell from 1,240 in January 2026 to 689 in June 2026, reflecting the sustained pressure of the campaign.
Deeg Operation: Two-Day Raid on July 15-16
Acting on Chief Minister Sharma's directions, Deeg Police conducted a focused two-day special operation on 15–16 July 2026, raiding six identified cybercrime hideouts across the district. The raids resulted in the arrest of 27 cyber criminals, including six wanted accused. Seized items included 10 mobile phones, 11 activated SIM cards, 2 ATM cards, and 2 motorcycles allegedly used to withdraw fraudulently obtained funds and facilitate escape.
Operation Mule Hunter and Financial Recovery
Police intensified action against mule bank accounts under Operation Mule Hunter. During April and May 2026 alone, Alwar Police registered 107 FIRs — the highest in Rajasthan under the operation. By June 2026, authorities had identified 7,579 suspicious accounts, registered 107 criminal cases, and arrested over 92 account holders. This follows the 2025 phase, in which 7,748 mule accounts were identified and 76 accused jailed.
In a significant recovery registered at Vaishali Nagar Police Station, police froze ₹60 lakh out of ₹1.25 crore siphoned by fraudsters and facilitated the refund of ₹22 lakh to victims. The district's success rate in freezing fraudulent transactions improved from 16.41% to 27.67%, aided by the local cyber helpline 8764874306 and the national helpline 1930.
Cyber Sangram 3.0 and Institutional Measures
Building on earlier editions of Cyber Sangram and Cyber Sangram 2.0, Alwar has now launched Cyber Sangram 3.0, under which personnel are receiving advanced training in digital forensics and cyber investigation tools. A dedicated A4C (Anti-Cyber Crime Coordination Centre) has also been established in Alwar, as confirmed by Superintendent of Police Sudhir Chaudhary.
Since 1 August 2025, the district has uploaded details of 474 FIRs and 699 cyber criminals to the Samanvay portal, enabling coordination with police forces nationwide. Police also conducted 3,313 cyber awareness programmes, reaching more than 2.25 lakh citizens with guidance on avoiding online fraud.
What Comes Next
With 98 interrogation notices issued and 99 preventive actions initiated under Section 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), authorities signal that the campaign is far from over. The Alwar-Deeg model — combining portal-driven SIM blocking, mule account hunting, and community awareness — is being positioned as a replicable framework for other cybercrime-prone districts in Rajasthan.
Point of View
But the absolute figure still means nearly three in four fraud transactions escape freezing. The real test is whether Cyber Sangram 3.0's forensics training translates into faster prosecution, not just faster arrests — conviction rates in cybercrime cases nationally remain low, and Rajasthan has yet to publish outcome data on its 2025 batch of 76 jailed accused.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many SIM cards were blocked in the Rajasthan cyber crackdown?
Rajasthan Police blocked 1,37,522 suspicious SIM cards and 53,536 mobile IMEI numbers through the Pratibimb portal, with Alwar district recording the highest such action in the country. The blocking targeted infrastructure used by cyber fraud networks operating in the border districts of Alwar and Deeg.
What happened in the Deeg cybercrime raid on July 15-16, 2026?
Deeg Police conducted a two-day special operation on 15–16 July 2026 , raiding six cybercrime hideouts and arresting 27 cyber criminals, including six wanted accused. Seized items included 10 mobile phones, 11 activated SIM cards, 2 ATM cards, and 2 motorcycles.
What is Operation Mule Hunter in Rajasthan?
Operation Mule Hunter is a Rajasthan Police campaign targeting bank accounts used to route and withdraw fraudulently obtained funds. In April–May 2026 alone, Alwar Police registered 107 FIRs under the operation — the highest in the state — and arrested over 92 account holders after identifying 7,579 suspicious accounts.
How much money was recovered for cyber fraud victims in Alwar?
In a major case at Vaishali Nagar Police Station , police froze ₹60 lakh out of ₹1.25 crore siphoned by fraudsters and facilitated the refund of ₹22 lakh to victims. The district's overall transaction-freeze success rate rose from 16.41% to 27.67%.
What is Cyber Sangram 3.0?
Cyber Sangram 3.0 is the latest phase of Alwar Police's anti-cybercrime training initiative, building on Cyber Sangram and Cyber Sangram 2.0. Under this programme, police personnel receive advanced training in digital forensics and cyber investigation tools to improve detection and prosecution of online fraud.
