Operation Shikanja

• 14 Oct 2025

Why in News? 

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Uttar Pradesh Police launched Operation Shikanja from 9th-13th October 2025, resulting in the arrest of 23 absconding economic offenders across the state. 

Key Points 

• Objective: 
  • To nab long-time absconders involved in major financial scams in Uttar Pradesh. 
  • To ensure accountability and recovery of misappropriated public funds. 
  • To strengthen the rule of law against white-collar crimes through coordinated policing. 
• Coordination: Under Director-General Neera Rawat’s directives, eight specialised teams supported by digital intelligence executed simultaneous multi-district raids coordinated through real-time surveillance to prevent escapes.  
• Impact: Within four days, 23 absconders were arrested, long-pending warrants executed, and recovery of defrauded public funds was initiated. 
  • The EOW has announced continued action under Operation Shikanja until all economic fugitives are apprehended. 
• Significance: It represents a coordinated statewide crackdown on financial crimes in Uttar Pradesh through digital surveillance and inter-district collaboration, reinforcing public trust in the EOW’s pursuit of economic justice.

Economic Offences Wing (EOW) 

• About: 
  • It was established in 1970 within the CID to handle economic crimes. 
  • In 1972, the Government assigned EOW the responsibility of investigating offences related to 10 departments — Forest, Transport, Food & Civil Supplies, Local Bodies, Industries, Excise, Agriculture, Panchayati Raj, Minor Irrigation, and Sales Tax. 
  • In 1977, EOW was reorganised as a separate specialised investigation branch of the U.P. Police. 
  • The scope of EOW was expanded in 2006 to cover economic offences involving all Government departments. 
  • In 2018, the Government established four EOW Police Stations in Lucknow, Varanasi, Meerut, and Kanpur to strengthen its operational reach. 
• Functions: It investigates cases of cheating, fraud, and misappropriation of government funds involving various government entities, may be entrusted with cases concerning private individuals or organisations based on the severity of the offence, and collects intelligence on government revenue losses for appropriate governmental action.