Maharashtra Cyber Police book YouTube channel operator for showing child sexual abuse

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The Maharashtra Cyber Police Thursday registered a case against the operator of a YouTube channel and others for allegedly displaying "Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)" involving mothers and their minor children.

The First Information Report also named the India representative of the "YouTube social media platform", newswire PTI reported.

The National Commission For Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had issued a notice on January 8 to the superintendent of police, Maharashtra cyber police, asking for investigation, said an official.

The commission informed that a disturbing trend had emerged on YouTube where participants in a "challenge" were filming and uploading videos of acts potentially in the nature of sexual abuse and involving mothers and minor children.

The NCPCR had come across one such channel named 'XXXX Vlogs' which aired a disturbing video, the official said.

Maharashtra Cyber Police officials started probe and found that the channel was being operated by a resident of Palghar district of Maharashtra, he said.

A case was registered under section 15 (storage of pornographic material involving child) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 67B (publishing or transmitting of material depicting children in sexually explicit act) of the Information Technology Act, and 509 (sexual harassment by electronic mode) of the Indian Penal Code against the channel, its operator, the woman appearing in the video and India representative of the "YouTube social media platform".

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No arrest has been made in the case, the official said. The commission, meanwhile, appreciated the Maharashtra government's swift response to its letter. It expected a similar prompt response from other states too, it said in a release.

Meanwhile, a woman was arrested in Mira Bhayander area of Thane district for allegedly operating a sex racket from a lodge, a police official said on Thursday.

The lodge was raided on January 8 on a tip off and the 35-year-old woman was arrested, Anti Human Trafficking Cell senior inspector Sameer Ahirrao said.

"The women who were rescued from this racket are in a shelter home. The accused has been charged under Indian Penal Code and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act," he said.

A case was registered at Kashimira police station and further probe was underway, he added. (With inputs from PTI)