Tirupati: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested seven accused from various places in the country, including a youngster from Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, in connection with an ongoing investigation of a case related to alleged online child sexual abuse and exploitation.
In a media release on Wednesday, CBI stated that investigations revealed that all accused had been allegedly sharing links of Child Sexual Exploitation Materials (CSEM) videos on certain websites including https://koflink.com and https://pdisklink.com.
Deccan Chronicle has accessed the FIR copy registered against the alleged offender T. Mohan Krishna, a resident of Tirupati’s Yashoda Nagar. According to the FIR, there is credible information with CBI that a syndicate of individuals based in different parts of India and foreign countries is indulging in circulation, storing and viewing of CSEM through various social media platforms or groups.
People belonging to the syndicate are disseminating CSEM by way of sharing links, videos, pictures, texts, posts, and hosting such content on social media groups or platforms and third-party storage or hosting platforms.
It has been learnt from reliable sources that Mohan Krishna of Tirupati with other known persons, was involved in publishing or transmitting CSEM in electronic form depicting children engaging in sexually explicit conduct. He was collecting, seeking, browsing, downloading, exchanging and distributing materials in electronic forms depicting children in obscene or indecent or sexually explicit manner, the FIR read.
These facts prima facie disclose commission of offences punishable under section 120-8 r/w 67-8 of IT Act, 2000 against Mohan Krishna and other unknown persons. Hence, CBI registered a regular case and took up further investigation, the FIR said.
The alleged offender was taken into custody by the CBI on Wednesday.
Confirming the development to Deccan Chronicle, Tirupati superintendent of police Ch. Venkata Appal Naidu said Urban Police assisted CBI officials in the process of apprehending the alleged offender and putting him under temporary custody. “CBI is producing the offender before the competent court. He is learnt to have allegedly uploaded CSEM on social media groups and websites for monetizing the content”, the SP added.
It may be recalled that CBI had registered 23 separate cases on November 14 against 83 accused on allegations related to online child sexual abuse and exploitation. On Tuesday, searches were conducted at around 77 locations including Tirupati and Anantapur’s Kanekal, and at premises of the accused, which led to the recovery of electronic gadgets, mobiles, laptops and so on.
