Delhi Cops Bust Transnational Lottery Scam, 6 Including 2 Nigerians Arrested
Delhi Police has claimed to have busted a transnational cheating syndicate operating in Delhi-NCR with the arrest of six people, including two Nigerians, an official said on Sunday.
Police said that the accused were defrauding Indian citizens through fake lotteries, gifts, and prize schemes. The gang, active for several years, lured unsuspecting victims into transferring large sums of money to fraudulently created bank accounts in exchange for non-existent rewards.
The accused have been identified as Shahid Raza (45), Shahrukh Khan (23), Vikas (25), and Rakesh alias Lalu (22). They worked with two Nigerians - Shedrack Onainor (29) and Sunday John alias Liberty (40).
Vikram Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch), said the syndicate's operation came to light after specific inputs were received on July 7 regarding a group of fraudsters operating out of Delhi, cheating people through fraudulent online lottery and gift schemes.
"Acting on the input, a team launched a surveillance operation. During the operation, Shahid Raza was apprehended from Punjabi Bagh in Delhi, while in possession of Rs 3.63 lakh in cash, nine ATM cards and a mobile phone containing incriminating data. His interrogation revealed a deep-rooted network involving both Indian and foreign nationals of Nigerian origin," said the DCP.
Subsequent raids led to the arrest of Shedrack Onainor from Khanpur in Delhi, while he was allegedly collecting the cheated money. Onainor was found to have been illegally residing in India since 2018. He overstayed his medical visa. Incriminating digital evidence was also recovered from his possession.
Based on disclosures made by Raza and Onainor, further arrests followed - Shahrukh Khan, Raza's son-in-law; Vikas and Rakesh, brothers from Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh; and Nigerian national Sunday John, who had overstayed his business visa since 2024.
"Teams seized multiple mobile phones, Aadhaar and PAN cards, cheque books, passbooks, and other items linked to the cheating racket," he added.
Sharing the modus operandi of the accused, police said that they adopted a well-coordinated system. "The Nigerian handlers - Onainor and Sunday - acted as masterminds, luring victims through fake online lottery and prize announcements. Once a victim transferred money into designated accounts, the Indian accomplices managed its withdrawal and delivery," the DCP said.
Shahid Raza and Shahrukh Khan handled cash operations. Raza withdrew funds using ATM cards and delivered cash to the Nigerian accused after retaining a 15 per cent commission. Shahrukh, meanwhile, managed UPI-based transfers using online applications and oversaw the activation and operation of fake accounts.
Rakesh and his brother Vikas played a key role in account fabrication. They used forged Aadhaar documents with updated Delhi-based addresses and fake SIM cards. They opened nearly 20 bank accounts under the name of Vikas across different banks. These accounts were later used to route fraudulent transactions. Another friend allegedly facilitated the Aadhaar updates without valid documents or verification, DCP added.
"The ATM cards linked to these accounts were handed over to Shahrukh and Shahid. Shahrukh generated UPI IDs and managed digital fund transfers. Withdrawals were executed by Shahid, who then handed over the cheated funds to Shedrack and Sunday John at various designated spots in Delhi, often travelling by autorickshaw," DCP Singh said.
Police said the commission system was also structured. Out of the 15 per cent cut from the withdrawn funds, 5 per cent went to Rakesh and Vikas for arranging the accounts and SIMs (3 per cent to Vikas, 2 per cent to Rakesh), while the rest was kept by Shahid and Shahrukh. Payments were made in cash or through online methods.
According to the police, among the seized items were 10 mobile phones, Rs 3.63 lakh in Rs 500 denomination notes, multiple Aadhaar and PAN cards, cheque books, and bank passbooks.
Sharing the profile of the accused, police said that Shedrack Onainor, originally from Delta State, Nigeria, came to India in 2013 on a medical visa that expired in 2018. He stayed on illegally and engaged in cheating operations. He was the main link between the Indian recruits and his Nigerian co-conspirators.
Shahid Raza, a resident of Bareilly, UP, previously worked in Saudi Arabia and later sold fruits in Delhi. He entered the racket around eight years ago to support his family, lured by the promise of a 15 per cent commission.
Shahrukh Khan, Raza's son-in-law, was educated up to class 7. He was influenced by villagers in Bareilly who were involved in similar frauds. Vikas is a class 6 dropout from Bareilly and previously worked as a tailor in Ghaziabad. Rakesh alias Lalu is uneducated and works as a painter and polisher. He helped his brother Vikas with Aadhaar forgery and account creation.
Sunday John alias Liberty, a Nigerian national, entered India on a business visa in 2023, which expired in 2024. He stayed on illegally and became a key member of the racket. He routinely collected money from Shahid and Shahrukh and shared the illicit proceeds with other Nigerian co-conspirators.
"All six have been remanded to judicial custody," police said. Further investigation is underway.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
29 minutes ago
- News18
‘Priyadarshini's Killer Was In Open Jail, How Can He Seek Release?' Hemant Mattoo Speaks To News18
Priyadarshini Mattoo's brother Hemant expressed shock over leniency shown towards convict Santosh Singh, who has benefited from a reduced sentence and an open jail arrangement In a deeply emotional and revealing conversation, Hemant Mattoo, brother of Priyadarshini Mattoo, shared his thoughts on the July 1 Delhi High Court directive to reconsider the rejection of a sentence review plea filed by Santosh Kumar Singh — the man convicted of raping and murdering Priyadarshini in 1996. This isn't the first time the review board has rejected his plea. Hemant expressed his shock and disappointment over the legal leniency shown toward the convict, who has already benefited from a reduced sentence and an open jail arrangement. He strongly questioned the justice system's idea of 'reformation", emphasising the complete absence of remorse or acknowledgment from Singh or his family. Hemant also opened up about the immense personal loss his family suffered due to the crime, saying that 'his father, mother and sister died prematurely" because of the crime committed by Singh. I was stunned and very disappointed. I couldn't believe that he received some leniency. The Supreme Court had already commuted his sentence from the death penalty to life imprisonment. At that time, the impression was that 'life imprisonment" would mean decades in prison. Since then, I have been following the case closely—especially alongside my father until he passed away in 2016. After the 2008 High Court judgment that convicted him, he was in prison. But after a few years, he was shifted to an open jail where he could leave during the day and return in the evening. What is your concern now? My concern is that he hasn't fully served the punishment he was supposed to. Considering the gravity of the crime and his past behaviour, it's very concerning that he is getting leniency. Has he ever reached out? Has he ever shown remorse or contacted us? Did he or his family ever try to apologise? Never. Neither he nor his family has ever approached my parents or me to say even a single word acknowledging our suffering. I don't know what 'reformation" means in the justice system if there's no remorse, no apology, no acknowledgment. What has he done in jail that merits release? The lower court acquitted him, then the High Court convicted him in a strongly worded order, and the Supreme Court commuted his death sentence to life imprisonment. Do you think the Indian judicial system helped you get justice? To some extent, yes—until the High Court stage. The High Court took cognisance of the gravity of the case, his pattern of harassment and stalking, and the influence his father had on the police and other departments. The trial court didn't rely on circumstantial evidence and let him go. But the High Court did, and we were satisfied at that point. However, we were disappointed with the lower court earlier and even with the Supreme Court when it commuted his death sentence. Do you think this is a complete judicial process, and should he be given a chance to reform and live in society or you think he would be dangerous for society? I can't predict if he will be dangerous, but I've never met him or spoken to him. What I know is he hasn't served the punishment he was supposed to. He's a manipulative person—he was manipulating the system before the crime, after the crime, and even during the sentence. How many convicts are allowed into open jails? He hasn't even completed his life sentence. The recent order talks about of 'reformation". What's your view? To me, reformation would mean that he or his family would come and acknowledge the pain caused to my family. My parents were alive till 2020. No one came forward. They act as if what happened was justified or irrelevant. There's no remorse. They act like they can bend the system however they want. We've been shown from the beginning that they simply don't care. Hypothetically, if he or his family came and sincerely apologised, would you be able to accept his premature release? I don't think so. This has gone too far. One incident destroyed my family. My father died prematurely. My mother passed away prematurely. My other sister also passed away. Three family members gone because of that one incident. I can never forgive him. He should have been hanged. Can you tell us about the challenges your family faced during this long legal journey? My father was the one who pursued the case. He faced huge challenges with the CBI—one day they would say something encouraging, the next day something disappointing. My father believed Singh's father, then an IPS officer, was influencing the investigation. The CBI's stance kept shifting, probably under pressure. Will you challenge the premature release if it happens? We are already doing that. Through friends and legal acquaintances in Delhi, we are submitting written responses to both the Delhi and Central governments. We are asking them to consider the case background, public sentiment, his dangerous behavioural pattern, and the high risk of repeat offending. He has never shown remorse—he may even come out with a revengeful mindset. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : news18 specials view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 21, 2025, 07:00 IST News india 'Priyadarshini's Killer Was In Open Jail, How Can He Seek Release?' Hemant Mattoo Speaks To News18 Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
31 minutes ago
- Indian Express
For Jharkhand families who lost men working abroad, road to getting compensation is long
In Bandhkharo village in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh district, Madan Mahto sits on a blue plastic chair by the door, peering into the distance. Every time someone walks by, he starts in anticipation but sits back down, disappointed. Madan is waiting for the remains of his son, Rameshwar Mahto. A lineman working in Kuwait and the only earning member of the family of six, Mahto died of 'cardiac and respiratory arrest' on June 15. For his family, Rameshwar's death has dealt a major blow, with the family now seeking what they see as their 'last resort' – compensation. To push for this, the family had refused to accept the body, relenting only earlier this week. 'My father had worked for the company since 2013,' his son Kishor says. 'But the company is now saying my father's death was a natural death and not an accident. My father worked hard for this company for over a decade, and now they say there will be no compensation.' The family isn't alone. A state with a significant migrant outflow, Jharkhand is increasingly witnessing a growing number of families refusing to accept bodies of migrants dying abroad – all in a struggle to get compensation. Consider this: last year, the body of Hiraman Mahto, who died of natural causes in December, returned to India after over two months. Likewise, the body of Faljit Mahto, who died in Saudi Arabia in March this year under unclear circumstances, came back 40 days later. The body of Santosh Mahto, who died in Malaysia in June last year, returned to India 21 days later. According to migrant rights' activist Sikandar Ali, the problem is compounded by the difficulties in keeping track of blue-collared migrants. 'Such cases are not new in Jharkhand. The government has no record of them until something goes wrong,' he said. 'For families who have lost their sole breadwinners, the fight for compensation often turns into an endless wait just to see the body.' For the families, it's usually a dilemma, where the urge to see a loved one's body return grapples with the need to ensure the family's survival. 'I long to see my son's body but I'm equally troubled by our debt of over Rs 10 lakh,' Rameshwar's mother Dalwa Devi, in her 80s, said. 'People keep barging in every few days to demand repayment of a loan we took.' Jharkhand is a state with a significant migrant outflow – according to a 2023 migration survey by the Jharkhand government, some 45 lakh people from the state migrated to various places for livelihoods. This number includes domestic as well as international migrants. Among those going abroad, migrants from Jharkhand usually head to countries such as Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Kuwait, Iran, Niger and Mali. Given the number of migrant workers from the state, the Jharkhand government has implemented the Jharkhand Migrant Labourers Survey and Rehabilitation Scheme. Aimed specifically for skilled or semi-skilled workers, the scheme makes provision for death or injury caused in a workplace accident outside of the state. But workers who die of natural causes – such as Rameshwar – are ineligible for such compensation. According to Ali, companies either send scouts to Jharkhand's Hazaribagh and Giridih districts to look for migrant workers, or get them to enlist through WhatsApp. 'Later, interviews are held in big hotels, and candidates are offered better pay than they previously got. However, they are never told about the terms of their contract, social security benefits, or other legal provisions,' he said. According to Rameshwar's oldest son Kishor, a report sent by IMCO, the Kuwait-based company his father worked for, puts the cause of death as 'Cardiac and Respiratory arrest due to severe Cerebral Haemorrhage'. 'Because of that, the company says we don't qualify for compensation,' he said. On its part, the company claims that while natural deaths are not covered under their compensation policy, other benefits are covered. 'Under the Kuwaiti labour laws, if a worker has completed 10 years of service, they are entitled to a severance package, half a month's salary for each of the first five years and full salary for each of the next five. But we require proper paperwork before anything can be processed,' the official said. In some cases, companies finally agree to pay but the road to it is long and gruelling. In the same village, the family of Dhananjay Mahto, a 29-year-old who died of 'failure of dominant neural centres in the brain' in Saudi Arabia on May 24, spoke about how it took 50 days of 'painful negotiations' to get the company he worked for to pay the compensation. Like Rameshwar's family, they too refused to accept the body until the payment was made. 'Although we eventually received Rs 9 lakh from the company and Rs 5 lakh under a state government scheme, the company had initially put us under severe mental stress by denying compensation due to the 'natural death' clause. I told them I had no option left but to commit suicide. That statement finally pressured them,' Dhananjay's older brother Khirodhar says. The family finally received the body on July 13. Shikha Lakra, head of Jharkhand's State Migrant Control Room under the Labour Department, said the state government had approached the Indian Embassy over Rameshwar's case. According to activist Sikandar Ali, the general lack of awareness leaves workers vulnerable to potential exploitation. 'Workers are only focused on earning money and don't pay attention to their contracts. Due to a general lack of legal awareness and understanding of foreign laws, they become vulnerable in cases of exploitation, such as low wages or no compensation to families after death,' Ali said. Shubham Tigga hails from Chhattisgarh and studied journalism at the Asian College of Journalism. He previously reported in Chhattisgarh on Indigenous issues and is deeply interested in covering socio-political, human rights, and environmental issues in mainland and NE India. Presently based in Pune, he reports on civil aviation, other transport sectors, urban mobility, the gig economy, commercial matters, and workers' unions. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn ... Read More
Indian Express
31 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Omar seeks Centre's ‘urgent' intervention after Ramban resident's abduction in Niger
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Sunday sought the central government's intervention in the release of a Ramban resident abducted by militants from Dosso region in the West African country of Niger. In a tweet on his official handle on X, Omar sought the 'urgent intervention' of the External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure Ranjeet Singh's return. While Ranjeet was abducted, two other Indian migrants – including one from Jharkhand – were killed on July 15 after some gunmen attacked their worksite some 30 km from the country's capital, Niamey. 'The Chief Minister has expressed concern over the abduction of Ranjeet Singh, a resident of Ramban, in Niger. He urges the Hon'ble EAM @DrSJaishankar and #MEAIndia to urgently intervene to secure Ranjeet's safe and swift return,' a post on X by the Chief Minister's Office said. Omar's tweet followed a similar appeal by Ranjeet's wife Sheela Devi. A senior safety officer at an integrated power transmission and distribution company in Niger, Ranjeet was at the worksite during the attack. At home in remote Chakka Kundi village in Ramban, Ranjeet's old parents Mohan Lal and Sadhu Devi are waiting for him to return. Talking to the media during the day, Sheela Devi said that the family last talked with Ranjeet last Tuesday and there had been no contact since. 'I came to know about her husband's abduction through his friend the next day… I don't know what kind of situation my husband is in and I don't know what the local government is trying to do to secure his,' she said, adding that she had met Ramban Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Alyas Khan, who promised 'to do everything in his capacity'. In a post on X Friday, the Indian Embassy confirmed the 'heinous terror attack' on July 15. 'Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Mission in Niamey is in touch with local authorities to repatriate mortal remains and ensure the safe release of the abducted Indian. All Indians in Niger are advised to remain vigilant,' the post said.
