The Jharkhand CID has busted a massive network involved in the trafficking of child pornography. An investigation by the CID's cybercrime branch revealed that a website was being used as a digital marketplace where explicit videos were sold and distributed. This network posed not only a national but an international threat to the safety of victimized children.
In a raid conducted in Bokaro district, Jharkhand, the cybercrime branch arrested two suspects, Ankit Kumar and Vivek Kumar. Their digital devices were found to contain a significant amount of child exploitation videos and photos. Investigations further revealed that the suspects employed Telegram channels and cloud storage to methodically sell explicit content.
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The Operation via Telegram
According to the investigators, the suspects first produced a video and then uploaded a short clip on Telegram. Those wishing to view the full video were sent a QR code by the suspects, who shared the link once payment was received. The interrogation revealed that a single video was sold for prices ranging from 499 to 1699 rupees.
This network's reach was beyond India, with the suspects selling content to citizens of Oman, Bangladesh, and UAE, raising significant concerns among investigation agencies.
The Investigation Initiated by a Complaint
The case surfaced when a complaint was filed on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal. A victim from Jharkhand reported that her explicit images and videos had been uploaded online without her consent, pushing her into severe mental distress and suicidal thoughts. The complaint prompted an immediate case registration and action.
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The CID's cybercrime branch has stated that this network could be extensive, and an investigation is in progress in collaboration with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (i4c). An intensive search is ongoing for the remaining suspects.
