In a significant crackdown on cybercrime, a Prayagraj-based engineer has been arrested for allegedly operating a pornography racket on social media that earned him Rs 2.5 crore through the illegal sale of obscene content to school children.
Arrest and Operations
The accused, identified as Vikas Singh, 28, ran multiple subscription-based channels on a social media platform where explicit videos and photographs were sold for Rs 350 each. According to police, these channels had a massive subscriber base, predominantly students aged between 12 and 17. The channels had been operational since 2020. Vikas was detained for questioning on May 17 and subsequently arrested on Tuesday.
How the Case Unfolded
The case came to light after a youth from Hardoi lodged a complaint on the cyber crime portal in April, alleging that an AI-generated obscene video featuring him had been uploaded on a Telegram channel. During the investigation, the cyber cell traced the content to channels allegedly operated by Vikas.
To build a case, Hardoi police posed as customers on Telegram and purchased videos from the channel administrator by transferring money into the bank account he provided. Another police team tracked the account and traced it to Vikas. Hardoi Superintendent of Police Ashok Meena stated, "During the transaction, the channel administrator demanded Rs 350 and shared a private bank account's details along with an IFSC code for payment. The account was found to belong to Vikas Singh, which helped police establish his identity."
Raids and Investigation
Following this, a police team raided Vikas' residence in Prayagraj on the night of May 17 and took him to Hardoi for questioning. An FIR was subsequently registered at the cyber police station. Police revealed that Vikas holds a BTech degree from a private college in Prayagraj and lives with his family there. His father is a former Air Force employee.
Modus Operandi
Hardoi SP explained that Vikas sourced pornographic content from various social media platforms by taking screenshots and tracing original upload sources using Google Lens. He would download the videos free of cost and then repost them on his Telegram channels for paid subscribers. "The accused was running multiple Telegram channels, including those named 'Ddose007.netoffitial' and 'Ddose007.netALL', where explicit videos and photographs were allegedly circulated and sold," said Meena.
Financial Trail
Police discovered three bank accounts allegedly linked to Vikas, collectively containing around Rs 2.5 crore. The investigation is ongoing to identify other individuals involved and to trace the full extent of the racket.
