Desk Correspondent , Jaipur - In a dramatic incident highlighting vigilante justice in rural Rajasthan, a youth identified as Manraj Prajapat was caught scamming villagers in Kabri village under Hindoli police station in Bundi district and forced to lick the sole of a shoe three times as public apology. The event unfolded on Saturday when Prajapat, a resident of Rein village in the same district, posed as a village development officer (VDO) and deceived women by promising benefits under various government schemes, including house approvals under the PM Awas Yojana. He allegedly collected ₹1,000 to ₹2,000 from several women for "formalities." Suspicious villagers, including young men, confronted him, leading to his confession and return of the extorted money.

The villagers then made Prajapat repeatedly apologise while licking the shoe sole, with him declaring, "I will not repeat such a mean act in the future," to teach him a lesson. No formal complaint was lodged with the police, and the youth was released after the humiliation. The incident gained widespread attention on Sunday when a video clip of the apology went viral on social media, prompting police action. Hindoli police identified Prajapat as the fake official and Lokesh Meena as the person who forced him to lick the shoe and filmed the act. Circle Inspector Mukesh Yadav cautioned Meena against such unlawful behaviour.

Police are now investigating potential other cheating cases involving Prajapat, though no FIR has been registered due to the absence of complaints from victims. The episode underscores ongoing challenges of fraudsters exploiting trust in government welfare schemes in rural areas and raises questions about informal justice systems bypassing legal procedures. Authorities have urged villagers to report such incidents to police instead of resorting to physical humiliation, even as the viral video sparks debates on social media about the effectiveness of community policing versus formal law enforcement in remote villages of Rajasthan.