In a shocking incident, Gujarat Police arrested three individuals, including a YouTuber from Prayagraj and two individuals from Maharashtra, on Friday for allegedly uploading videos of women bathing during the Mahakumbh on YouTube and Telegram. The accused are suspected of hacking CCTV cameras in 60 to 70 hospitals across the country, capturing videos of women undergoing check-ups in gynecological chambers and leaking the footage online.
How Did The Crime Come To Light?
During the investigation, objectionable videos of women were found in the possession of the accused. The case came to light on February 19 when videos of women being examined at Rajkot’s Payal Hospital were uploaded on YouTube, prompting Gujarat Police to launch a probe.
Two Held From Maharashtra
Two suspects from Maharashtra were initially arrested in connection with the case. Their interrogation led to the arrest of Prayagraj-based YouTuber Chandraprakash Fulchand, who had uploaded 55 to 60 videos of women bathing at the Mahakumbh on his channel. The two other accused, identified as Prajwal Ashok Teli from Latur and Praj Rajendra Patil from Sangli, were also taken into custody, reported Dainik Bhaskar.
According to Ahmedabad Cyber Crime DCP Lavina Sinha, the investigation revealed that the trio had not only uploaded the videos on their own channels but also sold them to others. Chandraprakash was responsible for recording the videos, uploading them to his channel, and selling them online. His Telegram channel had over 100 subscribers, and the accused were running a business of selling such videos at high prices.
The Payal Hospital’s CCTV system was reportedly hacked between February and March 2024. The accused captured videos of women during medical check-ups and posted them for sale on social media platforms. The same videos were also sold through YouTube and Telegram, and the police suspect the involvement of the same gang in this crime.
Thorough Probe By Ahmedabad Crime Branch Leads To Suspects
Ahmedabad Crime Branch’s investigation further uncovered that the accused were earning substantial amounts by selling objectionable videos of women on these platforms. Their Telegram channel operated from Sangli and Latur in Maharashtra. The team conducted searches in Maharashtra and Prayagraj, uncovering evidence suggesting that up to 70 hospitals might have been targeted by this racket, which had been active for over a year.
Prajwal Teli, the prime accused from Maharashtra, allegedly earned lakhs of rupees within eight months by selling videos priced between 800 and 2000 rupees. Preliminary investigations indicated that the hospital CCTV systems were hacked from Romania and Atlanta, with Teli reportedly in contact with hackers from these regions.
Uttar Pradesh DGP Prashant Kumar confirmed that three FIRs had been registered for uploading videos of women bathing. He assured strict action against the perpetrators and mentioned that 55 to 60 cases had also been filed for spreading misleading information about the Mahakumbh. Authorities are working to identify those involved in managing these accounts.
