Prominent Jodhpur arrest in high-value fraud probe
Jodhpur police on Saturday arrested Sumta Vishnoi — a woman with multiple criminal cases against her — and her two sons in connection with a complaint alleging fraud totalling Rs 2.45 crore. The accused, identified in local circles as a "lady don", were produced before a court and remanded to police custody until August 14, officials said.
The case was registered after a businessman from Chittorgarh, Parvat Singh Rajpurohit, filed a complaint alleging that Vishnoi exploited purported connections with politicians, officials and the police-court system to solicit large sums of money by promising favours that were not delivered.
- Amount alleged: Rs 2.45 crore in total
- Breakdown in complaint: Rs 1.5 crore for securing a prasad contract at the Sanwaliyaji Temple Trust; Rs 1.4 crore for facilitating bail in a High Court matter
- Accused produced: Sumta Vishnoi and sons Vinod and Manish
According to the police account, officers received information that Vishnoi was at her residence in Jodhpur and proceeded to the address. Finding no one outside, they suspected someone could be inside and sought the assistance of a carpenter to force open a wooden door. On entering, they located Vishnoi with one of her sons.
"Jai Hind Sir," Vishnoi reportedly greeted a senior police officer on being sighted inside the house.
Officers then asked to open another locked room where they believed the other son was hiding. Police said Vishnoi intervened and brought her other son out herself. All three were taken into custody and later produced before a court, which remanded them to police custody until 14 August for further interrogation.
Criminal history and allegations
Police records show that Vishnoi has 16 criminal cases registered against her in Jodhpur and other locations, including alleged involvement in drug smuggling and fraud. She has previously spent time in judicial custody, the records indicate. The present complaint by Rajpurohit centres on alleged deception and non-fulfilment of promises after sizeable payments were made.
| Alleged purpose | Amount (as per complaint) |
|---|---|
| Prasad contract at Sanwaliyaji Temple Trust | Rs 1.5 crore |
| Facilitating bail in High Court | Rs 1.4 crore |
| Total claimed | Rs 2.45 crore |
Police said the complainant alleged that the money was accepted on assurances that influential work would be done, but the promises were not fulfilled and the sums were not returned. The complaint also named the two sons as participants in the dealings, prompting their arrest alongside Vishnoi.
Investigation and local implications
Investigators are examining the complaint and questioning the accused to establish the facts and trace the flow of funds. The arrest has drawn attention locally because of the charges of attempted influence over a religious trust contract and judicial bail — allegations that touch on institutional integrity and public trust.
Vishnoi's prior record of multiple cases across jurisdictions, coupled with the size of the amounts alleged in this complaint, means the probe is likely to involve detailed financial and documentary scrutiny. Police said they are examining all aspects of the complaint as part of the ongoing investigation.
The matter will now progress through the criminal justice process, with police custody remand permitting further questioning and evidence collection. Any subsequent charge-sheet filing will be subject to court oversight and standard legal procedure.
Local residents and temple administration actors will be watching developments closely, given that the complaint includes an alleged attempt to secure a prasad contract at the Sanwaliyaji Temple Trust — a sensitive and significant matter for communities that depend on trust-run religious services.
