Rajasthan Police bust interstate cable theft gang, 12 arrested in Sikar
Synopsis
Rajasthan Police have cracked an interstate gang that allegedly stripped cables from over 103 kilometres of a live 765 kV transmission line, causing losses of up to ₹6 crore. With 12 arrests, multiple vehicles seized, and iPhones bought from stolen proceeds recovered, the bust exposes the organised, well-resourced nature of infrastructure theft targeting India's power grid buildout.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan Police arrested 12 members of an interstate gang on 28 August 2026 for allegedly stealing high-tension power cables worth ₹5–6 crore .
Thefts targeted approximately 103 km of the 765 kV Sikar-II to Narela transmission line developed by PowerGrid Wataman Transmission Limited .
Recovered items include a Thar , a car, a pickup truck, two motorcycles , and two iPhones allegedly bought with stolen proceeds.
The complaint was filed on 9 August 2026 by Skipper Limited after thefts at four sites between 11 July and 6 August 2026 .
Police are tracing buyers of the stolen cables and probing links to other property crimes; search for additional suspects is ongoing.
Rajasthan Police have dismantled an interstate gang allegedly responsible for stealing high-tension power cables worth an estimated ₹5–6 crore, arresting 12 members in a coordinated operation on 28 August 2026. The crackdown, conducted jointly by the District Special Team (DST), Sikar, and Sadar Neem Ka Thana police, marks one of the largest cable theft busts in the region in recent memory.
What Was Stolen and Where
According to Superintendent of Police Praveen Nayak Noonawat, the accused confessed to stealing cables along approximately 103 kilometres of the 765 kV D/C Sikar-II to Narela transmission line, a project being developed by PowerGrid Wataman Transmission Limited. The thefts occurred within the jurisdiction of Sadar Neem Ka Thana and Dabla police stations, with the gang reportedly involved in dozens of separate incidents between 11 July and 6 August 2026.
How the Investigation Unfolded
The probe was triggered after Dipankar Debnath, Assistant Manager at Skipper Limited, Neemkathana, filed a formal complaint on 9 August 2026, reporting the theft of conductors, wires, and other transmission-line material from four sites. Police teams, supervised by Additional SP (Neem Ka Thana) Lokesh Meena and Circle Officer Sushil Maan, analysed CCTV footage, monitored suspects, and deployed technical intelligence to track the gang's movements. The operation was carried out under the direction of SP Noonawat, following instructions from Inspector General of Police, Jaipur Range, Rahul Prakash.
Recoveries and Accused
Police recovered several vehicles allegedly used in the thefts, including a Thar, a car, a pickup truck, and two motorcycles. Two iPhones, reportedly purchased using proceeds from the stolen cables, were also seized. The 12 arrested accused are: Dheeraj Bagadiya (26), Mohit Jakhar (20), Lokesh Mehraniya (20), Vijay Kumar Mehraniya (20), Sachin Kumar Saini (19), Deepak Meena (23), Rahul Yadav (21), Hanuman Meena alias Abhi (19), Jagdish Bawariya (38), Monu Jat, Himanshu Nayak (19), and Sunil Gurjar (24).
What Investigators Are Probing Next
Authorities say further interrogation is expected to reveal the full scale of the gang's operations, including where the stolen cables were sold and who the buyers were. Investigators are also probing possible links to other property-related crimes and are actively searching for additional suspects. This comes amid growing concerns about organised theft targeting critical power infrastructure across Rajasthan.
Point of View
They create lucrative targets for organised theft networks that operate across state lines and move quickly. The recovery of iPhones and multiple vehicles signals this was no opportunistic crime; it was a coordinated, funded operation. What remains unanswered is how dozens of thefts along a 103-km corridor went undetected long enough for a ₹5–6 crore haul to accumulate — and whether PowerGrid's site security protocols are adequate for the scale of infrastructure being deployed.
NationPress
28 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Rajasthan Police uncover in the Sikar cable theft bust?
Rajasthan Police dismantled an interstate gang allegedly responsible for stealing high-tension power cables worth ₹5–6 crore from a 765 kV transmission line in Sikar. Twelve suspects were arrested, and vehicles along with iPhones reportedly bought from stolen proceeds were recovered.
Which transmission line was targeted by the gang?
The gang allegedly targeted the 765 kV D/C Sikar-II to Narela transmission line, a project being developed by PowerGrid Wataman Transmission Limited. Thefts occurred along approximately 103 kilometres of the line within the Sadar Neem Ka Thana and Dabla police station jurisdictions.
Who filed the complaint that triggered the investigation?
Dipankar Debnath, Assistant Manager at Skipper Limited, Neemkathana, filed a complaint on 9 August 2026 reporting thefts of conductors, wires, and transmission-line material from four sites between 11 July and 6 August 2026.
Who are the key officers behind the operation?
The operation was directed by SP Praveen Nayak Noonawat under instructions from Inspector General of Police Rahul Prakash of Jaipur Range. Field supervision was handled by Additional SP Lokesh Meena and Circle Officer Sushil Maan.
What happens next in the investigation?
Police are continuing interrogation to map the gang's full network, trace buyers of the stolen cables, and probe possible links to other property crimes. The search for additional suspects is ongoing.
