NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), acting on inputs from US authorities, conducted multiple raids under Operation Hawk and arrested two individuals to dismantle cybercrime networks involved in online child sexual exploitation with international linkages, officials said on Wednesday.
Officials stated that the CBI's International Operations Division registered a case against accused Sheikh Muizz Ahmed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code(IPC), the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the POCSO Act, 2012. Following the FIR, the agency initiated an investigation.
A senior CBI official said, “During March, 2024, accused Sheikh Muizz Ahmed, resident of Mangalore, operated through social media platform ‘Discord’ under the username ‘heisenberg7343’ and engaged in online chats with a minor girl from the US. During chats, the accused induced a minor girl to engage in sexualised chats with him and he further induced and enticed her to share her obscene images/videos with him over the said platform. The accused also intimidated the minor victim to engage in obscene sexual activities online.”
The CBI conducted extensive raids at various locations in Mumbai and Mangalore linked to the accused leading to recovery of electronic devices like mobile phone and laptop, which contained CSAM obtained by the accused from the minor girl victim by way of inducement, the officials said, adding that accused Muizz Ahmed was arrested by CBI and sent to judicial custody.
In another case the CBI’s International Operations Division registered an FIR against Mukul Saini, a resident of Delhi, under various sections of the IPC, IT Act and POCSO, the officials said, adding that it was found that during the period 2023-2024, he also operated through Discord vide IDs “Izumi#9412”, “Izumi#7070”, “Deadddd#6873” and “Arisu” and engaged in online chats with another minor girl from the US.
“During chats, the accused induced the minor girl to engage in sexualised chats with him and share her obscene images and videos with him over the said platform. Accused also intimidated the minor victim to continue doing so, otherwise he will make her obscene images and videos viral on the internet,” another official said.
The CBI conducted raids against Saini at places linked to him in Delhi and recovered electronic devices like mobile phones and computer hard disks containing incriminating digital evidence relating to the case, the official said.
As part of its drive against the menace of Online Child Sexual Exploitation and ensure protection of children globally, the CBI had launched Operation CARBON in 2021 and Operation Megh Chakra in 2022 to trace accused of online child sexual exploitation cases with international linkages.