UP Police's 'Operation Shikanja' Nabs 20 in Major Financial Crime Crackdown
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Uttar Pradesh Police has made significant strides in combating financial crimes with the successful execution of 'Operation Shikanja', a week-long special crackdown that resulted in the arrest of 20 wanted accused involved in various high-profile cases. Conducted from March 9 to 15, this intensive campaign was specifically designed to accelerate pending investigations and apprehend individuals who had been evading law enforcement for years.
Coordinated Raids Across Multiple Districts
To ensure the operation's effectiveness, the EOW constituted eight specialised teams at both headquarters and sector levels, with additional support from a central crack team. These units carried out coordinated raids and search operations across several districts of Uttar Pradesh, leading to the apprehension of suspects linked to multiple financial crime cases. Officials emphasized that the operation targeted absconding accused in economic offences, many of whom had managed to avoid capture for extended periods.
Major Breakthrough in VDO Recruitment Scam
One of the most notable cases addressed during 'Operation Shikanja' is the 2018 recruitment examination scam for 1,953 posts of village development officer (VDO), social welfare supervisor, and gram panchayat officer. This examination was conducted by the UP Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC) through Tata Consultancy Services. Following numerous complaints of widespread irregularities and alleged manipulation in the process, the state government handed over the probe to the EOW's Special Investigation Team (SIT).
A case was registered at Vibhuti Khand police station in Lucknow under sections 467, 468, 471, 477A, and 120B of the Indian Penal Code. During the recent operation, five accused candidates were arrested: Pawan Kumar, Vinod Kumar Maurya, Rakesh, Devendra Kumar, and Deepak. To date, a total of 35 accused have been arrested in connection with this recruitment scam, which remains under active investigation.
Muzaffarnagar Power Corporation Fraud Uncovered
In another significant development, the EOW Meerut sector arrested five accused in connection with a financial irregularity case involving the UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL). The case dates back to 2006-07, when the electricity distribution division in Muzaffarnagar was tasked with electrifying 941 private tube wells in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts under a general scheme.
Investigations revealed that after achieving the sanctioned target, officials and employees allegedly used forged letterheads of public representatives to show the electrification of nearly 200 additional private tube wells without official approval. This fraudulent activity caused an estimated loss of Rs 1.39 crore to the state exchequer. A case was registered at Kotwali police station in Muzaffarnagar under sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 477A, and 120B of the IPC. Based on collected evidence, the EOW arrested Akhil Srivastava, Jagdish Prasad, Samay Singh, Mahesh Chandra Gupta, and Ashok Kumar Gupta.
Bank Fraud Case in Kanpur Yields Arrests
The operation also achieved a breakthrough in a bank fraud case involving the Bank of India's Maharajpur branch in Kanpur Nagar. According to investigators, Pankaj Gupta, a daily wage worker at the branch, along with accomplices, allegedly stole login credentials and passwords of bank officials and employees. Using these details, the accused carried out fraudulent transactions and siphoned off Rs 1.41 crore from account holders' accounts.
The case was initially registered at Maharajpur police station in Kanpur Nagar in March 2020 under sections 406 and 420 of the IPC, along with provisions of the Information Technology Act. The state government transferred the investigation to the EOW in August 2020. During the probe, investigators found 11 persons, including four public servants and six private individuals, prima facie guilty. In the latest operation, the EOW arrested Anuj Kumar Sharma, Hitesh Kumar Sharma, and Ashutosh Thakur in connection with this fraud.
Additional Arrests and Official Statements
Apart from these major cases, EOW teams arrested seven other accused in separate economic offence cases during the campaign. Those arrested include Nirahu, Jagdish Prasad Gupta, Ashish Shukla, Surendra Pal Singh, Rajeev Purwar, Ajit Singh, and Naved Hasan.
Senior officials have described the 7-day 'Operation Shikanja' as a significant achievement for the EOW, highlighting its success in apprehending 20 wanted accused involved in financial crimes. They reiterated that the agency will continue intensified action against corruption, fraud, and financial irregularities across Uttar Pradesh, underscoring a commitment to upholding law and order in the economic sphere.
