Jaipur, February 26 (NationPress) - In a significant operation, the Rajasthan Police have taken decisive action against a sophisticated cyber fraud syndicate accused of embezzling crores of rupees from government welfare initiatives. A total of 51 individuals have been apprehended, and measures are underway to seize properties believed to have been acquired through illicit activities.

This extensive operation, led by the Jhalawar Police as part of “Operation Shutdown”, specifically targeted a cybercrime group implicated in the wrongful diversion of funds from public welfare programs.

According to Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar, the suspects are alleged to have manipulated digital platforms associated with various government welfare schemes, such as the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi and disability pension programs, by fraudulently enrolling ineligible recipients.

During the course of the investigation, the police uncovered sensitive materials, including the SSO IDs and passwords of government employees, alongside confidential information about beneficiaries and farmers from several states.

Law enforcement officials indicated that legal proceedings under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, have been initiated against the accused, aiming to facilitate the attachment of properties thought to have been funded by criminal proceeds.

Investigating Officer and Circle Officer, Prem Kumar, from Bhawani Mandi, noted that numerous suspects had acquired both movable and immovable assets allegedly through funds derived from fraudulent schemes.

The police have sought court approval for the attachment of properties owned by 33 suspects, which include residential complexes, commercial properties, agricultural land, vehicles, and industrial facilities.

The identified assets comprise 22 constructed houses, including three commercial outlets, three mansions in progress, eight plots of land, two agricultural estates, along with a fleet of 16 cars, 18 motorcycles, a tractor, a CNC manufacturing unit, and an extra commercial shop.

Initiated on October 22, 2025, Operation Shutdown involved a series of coordinated raids across Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh.

In the initial phase of this operation, multiple police teams executed searches at 18 locations, resulting in the detention of 30 individuals and the recovery of Rs 52.69 lakh in cash.

Further phases of the operation led to the capture of additional suspects, who were allegedly engaged in website cloning, technical support, and financial transactions relevant to the fraud.

Authorities revealed that some of the suspects provided the necessary internet infrastructure and technical support to facilitate these illegal activities.

Assistance from officials in the Revenue, Public Works Department (PWD), and Transport Department was crucial in verifying property records and ownership information.

Due to the inter-state implications of the case, Director General of Police Rajiv Kumar Sharma has assigned the ongoing investigation to the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) for an in-depth analysis.

The police confirmed that the investigation is still ongoing to identify further suspects and trace the financial transactions associated with the alleged fraud.