Latest news with #CSEAM
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Time of India
Child pornography, exploitation in Punjab: 2 arrested, 33 suspects identified in operation across 18 districts
1 2 Chandigarh: The cybercrime division of Punjab Police has arrested two individuals and identified 33 suspects involved in viewing, transmitting, and distributing child pornography and expoitive content of minors, said a top official on Friday. Punjab director general of police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said the content, which is described as child sexual exploitative and abusive material (CSEAM), was being distributed through online platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram. The operation, codenamed CSEAM-4, was conducted on Thursday and spanned 40 locations across 18 districts. The action came after complaints to Union ministry of home affairs' Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), the DGP said. The Supreme Court, in a judgement, clarified that viewing, possessing, and not reporting CSEAM content is punishable under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act. CSEAM refers to any content depicting or exploiting minors in a sexual manner, including photos, videos, or media, which is illegal to produce, distribute, or possess, causing long-lasting harm to victims and considered a severe form of child exploitation due to the lasting impact it had on victims. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Those arrested have been identified as Akash Babu, a resident of Rajasthani Colony in Khanna, and Harpreet Singh, a resident of Burmajra village in Morinda, Ropar. The DGP said the state cyber crime cell analysed digital evidence to track offenders. He said during the operation, 33 suspects were identified across Punjab, with teams from field units dispatched under the guidance of additional director general of police (cybercrime) V Neeraja. The raids led to the registration of two FIRs and the seizure of 34 mobile phones, which were sent for forensic analysis to recover deleted data, with more FIRs and arrests anticipated, the DGP said. ADGP V Neeraja said Babu was not only viewing CSEAM content. but also sharing it in other groups. "Harpreet Singh was allegedly blackmailing a victim to share nude pictures and had been sexually abusing minors," he said. The mobile device was seized for examination of deleted data, she said, adding that an investigation in both cases was under way.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Two held, 33 identified in crackdown on online child sexual abuse content
Punjab Police's cybercrime division has arrested two persons and identified 33 suspects involved in viewing, transmitting and distributing child sexual exploitative and abusive material using various online platforms, said director general of police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Friday. Punjab Police's cybercrime division has arrested two persons and identified 33 suspects involved in viewing, transmitting and distributing child sexual exploitative and abusive material using various online platforms, said director general of police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Friday. (Representational image) The operation, codenamed CSEAM-4, conducted on Thursday, spanned 40 locations across 18 districts and three commissionerates following actionable cyber tip-lines from the Indian cyber crime coordination centre of the ministry of home affairs (MHA). The Supreme Court in a judgment had clarified that viewing, possessing and not reporting child sexual exploitative and abuse material (CSEAM) is punishable under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act. CSEAM refers to any content depicting or exploiting minors in a sexual manner, including photos, videos, or media, which is illegal to produce, distribute, or possess, causing long-lasting harm to victims and considered a severe form of child exploitation due to the lasting impact it has on victims. Those arrested have been identified as Akash Babu, a resident of Rajasthani Colony in Khanna and Harpreet Singh, a resident of Burmajra village in Morinda, Rupnagar. The DGP said the state cyber crime cell meticulously analysed digital evidence from platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram to track offenders. He said that during the operation, 33 suspects were identified across Punjab, with teams from field units dispatched under the guidance of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Cybercrime V Neeraja. The raids lead to the registration of two First information reports (FIRs) and the seizure of 34 mobile phones, which have been sent for forensic analysis to recover deleted data, with more arrests anticipated, he said. The DGP said that based on the examination, more FIRs will be registered and suspects involved in CSEAM crimes will be arrested. ADGP V Neeraja said that the cyber tiplines are generated on the basis of online activity on CSEAM particularly on platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and Telegram.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
Punjab Police arrest two in major crackdown on online child sexual abuse; 33 identified, 34 devices seized
CHANDIGARH: In a significant crackdown on online child exploitation, the Cybercrime Division of Punjab Police has arrested two individuals and identified 33 suspects involved in viewing, transmitting, and distributing Child Sexual Exploitative and Abusive Material (CSEAM) across various online platforms. Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, said on Friday that the operation codenamed CSEAM-4 was carried out on Thursday and spanned 40 locations across 18 districts and three Commissionerates. The action followed cyber tip-offs from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The two individuals arrested have been identified as Akash Babu, a resident of Rajasthani Colony in Khanna, and Harpreet Singh, a resident of village Burmajra in Morinda, Rupnagar. DGP Yadav stated that the State Cyber Crime Cell meticulously analysed digital evidence from platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram to trace the offenders. During the operation, 33 suspects were identified throughout Punjab, and field teams were dispatched for coordinated raids. The operation led to the registration of two First Information Reports (FIRs) and the seizure of 34 mobile phones, all of which have been sent for forensic analysis to retrieve deleted content. More arrests are expected.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Time of India
15 repeat offenders arrested in Telangana for circulating child porn; one is IIT graduate
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB)'s Child Protection Unit (CPU) arrested 15 men on Wednesday for repeatedly watching, saving, and sharing child sexual abuse material (CSEAM). The arrests happened in a single-day of the arrested is a 30-year-old software engineer who graduated from IIT-Kharagpur. He works at a Hyderabad-based company and reportedly earns ₹35 lakh a year. He lives with his wife and daughter. Another arrested man is an unemployed engineering graduate from Yadagirigutta who had been caught earlier in a similar TGCSB said that all the men were previously linked to 34 earlier cases of child abuse material, including 17 directly handled by the bureau. This latest action was based on 57 complaints passed on by Interpol through the Union Home arrested men are between 19 and 50 years old, mostly in their 20s, and come from middle-class families. They work in different fields like software, construction, auto repair, and sales. All of them are now in judicial Director Shikha Goel said the disturbing content showed children between 6 and 14 years of age. The men were charged under the IT Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.[With TOI inputs]
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Time of India
‘Even browsing such content is a crime': IIT-Kharagpur graduate, 14 others held in Telangana for circulating child abuse content; all repeat offenders
Telangana's Cyber Security Bureau has arrested 15 individuals, including an IIT graduate, for involvement in child sexual exploitation content. The arrests, part of a larger crackdown initiated in February 2025, targeted repeat offenders identified through Interpol tiplines. HYDERABAD: In a major crackdown on child sexual exploitation content, the child protection unit (CPU) of the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has arrested 15 repeat offenders for watching, storing, and distributing Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM). Among the arrested is a 30-year-old IIT-Kharagpur graduate employed at a Hyderabad-based software firm. All the accused are currently in judicial custody. The child protection unit was set up in Feb 2025 by chief minister A Revanth Reddy to monitor and curb digital circulation of CSEAM. Since its inception, 294 cases have been registered, and 110 offenders arrested across the state. The latest operation, conducted on Wednesday, targeted individuals linked to 57 CSEAM complaints flagged by Interpol tiplines and routed through the ministry of home affairs. Offenders from Hyderabad, Jagadgirigutta (Cyberabad), Yadagirigutta (Rachakonda), Karimnagar, Warangal, and Jagtial were identified and arrested. 'All 15 were picked up in a single-day operation. These are repeat offenders linked to 34 previous cases, including 17 registered directly by TGCSB,' said TGCSB director Shikha Goel. Among the accused, the IIT graduate reportedly earns Rs 35 lakh per annum and resides in Hyderabad with his wife and daughter. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like When Knee Pain Hits, Start Eating These Foods, and Feel Your Pain Go Away (It's Genius) Read More Undo Another accused is an unemployed engineering graduate from Yadagirigutta with a prior CSEAM case. Others work in varied occupations, including automobile repair, construction, and retail sales. 'The accused are aged between 19 and 50, mostly in their twenties, and largely from middle-class backgrounds. The children in the content appear to be aged between 6 and 14 years, and 90% are girls, mostly from other countries,' Goel added. The accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Information Technology (IT) Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. TGCSB serves as the state's nodal agency for handling complaints related to CSEAM, including child pornography and sexual violence cases, received through platforms such as the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), cyber tiplines, and the case management tools of the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The child protection unit also conducts surveillance across social media, as well as cyber patrolling on the dark and deep web. 'In one case, we were able to rescue a child victim from Suryapet who appeared in CSEAM material. Identifying a victim from tipline data is extremely rare, but our team succeeded. Let it be clear that browsing such content is a punishable offence. We are monitoring all such activity, and action will be swift and strict,' Goel said. Officials said the offenders accessed the content through closed social media groups or the dark web, in some cases by paying for it. Police will seek custody of the accused to trace the networks.
