CBI conducts raids all over India against online child sexual abuse

|HT|

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday launched a major operation code named “Operation Megh-Chakra” against circulation and sharing of child sexual abuse material online, conducting raids at around 56 locations in 20 states and union territories, people familiar with the development said.

The operation was initiated based on inputs shared by the Interpol, they added. The original input about persons involved in alleged posting and circulation of child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) through various social media platforms was shared by Interpol, New Zealand, which were passed on to CBI through Singapore.

CBI also has constituted a special unit called Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Prevention/ Investigation (OCSAE) since 2019 for investigating matters pertaining to online child sexual abuse and exploitation. Apart from receiving various references/information, the unit undertakes investigation of various offences relating to online child sexual abuse and exploitation. It collates and investigates information received from the embassies and overseas federal probe agencies about organised rackets which are active in online child sexual abuse and exploitation.