CBI arrests UP irrigation department's junior engineer for sexual abuse of 50 minors

The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested an accused Ram Bhawan, a resident of Chitrakoot district of Uttar Pradesh in an ongoing investigation of a case of sexual abuse of minors.

A case was registered against Ram Bhawan, a junior engineer at the irrigation department and other unknown persons. It was alleged that the accused were involved in the sexual abuse of children in the districts of Banda, Chitrakoot and the surrounding areas in Uttar Pradesh. Apart from the physical abuse of these children, the accused also allegedly recorded their acts using their mobile phones, laptops and other electronic devices. It was further alleged that these photographs and video films containing child sexual abuse material were published/transmitted by the accused using the facility of internet. It was also alleged that the accused used Darkweb for sale, transmission and sharing of such CSAM content with other individuals.

Searches were conducted at the residence of the accused which led to the recovery of cash of Rs 8 lakh (approx.), mobile phones, laptops, web-camera and other electronic storage devices including pen drives/memory cards and several sex toys. 

The accused allegedly used these electronic items and gadgets to lure children falling in the age group of 5-16 years. The scrutiny of the emails of the accused has revealed that he was allegedly in constant touch with several individuals (both Indian and foreign nationals) for the purpose of sharing child sexual abuse material. The accused has allegedly created and shared huge quantity of child sexual abusive material, over the years, through the internet using various social media platforms and websites over darknet, etc.

The arrested accused was produced before the Jurisdictional Court on Tuesday.

It may be mentioned that a Special Unit “Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Prevention/ Investigation (OCSAE)” has been created in CBI, New Delhi for matters pertaining to online child sexual abuse and exploitation. Apart from receiving various references/information, the unit is undertaking an investigation of various offences relating to online child sexual abuse and exploitation.