Telangana Police Arrest 34 Cybercriminals in Special Drive

Hyderabad: Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has arrested 34 cybercriminals during a one-day special operation conducted across the state.

The arrested include 24 repeat offenders involved in crimes related to Child Sexual Exploitation and Obscene Material (CSEAM), and 10 individuals holding fake accounts engaged in various cyber frauds within and outside Telangana.

The operation focused on Hyderabad city, surrounding areas, and other district units, deploying 18 teams to carry out the crackdown.

Shikha Goyal, Director of TGCSB, informed on Friday that this was the bureau’s second special CSEAM campaign. It led to the arrest of 24 repeat offenders accused of uploading, storing, and distributing sexually explicit material involving minors.

The arrests were based on 91 complaints received through the cyber tipline. Consequently, 24 FIRs under Section 67-B of the IT Act and Section 15 of the POCSO Act were registered at TGCSB cybercrime police stations across the state.

The accused, aged between 18 and 48 years, mostly come from working and middle-class backgrounds, including one state government employee. A significant portion of the seized content appears to involve foreign victims aged approximately four to fourteen years.

The child protection unit of TGCSB analysed evidence from the CSEAM tipline and identified some material suspected to be produced locally. Based on age, background, attire, facial features, language, and other quality indicators, a thorough investigation and regional operation led to the arrest of the accused and rescue of a four-year-old victim.

The suspect, Khandhara Sreekanth from Rajendranagar, is currently employed as a security guard with G2 Security Solutions. Earlier, he worked as a housekeeping boy at Color Health and Glow in Haydarghuda. He sexually abused the minor child and secretly recorded the act, later uploading it on Google Drive for viewing and distribution.

This heinous crime was committed covertly, with the child’s parents unaware of the abuse until TGCSB identified the offence and apprehended the accused.

The special operation underscores TGCSB’s commitment to tackling cyber crimes, especially those involving exploitation of minors, through coordinated efforts and vigilant investigation.