2 arrested, 37 suspects identified for child porn

In a crackdown on online child exploitation, the cybercrime division of the Punjab Police has arrested two individuals and identified 33 suspects involved in viewing, transmitting and distribution of child sexual exploitative and abusive material (CSEAM) using various online platforms, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Friday.

The operation, codenamed CSEAM-4, conducted on Thursday, spanned 40 locations across 18 districts and three Commissionerates following actionable cyber tip-lines from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Those arrested have been identified as Akash Babu, a resident of Rajasthani Colony in Khanna and Harpreet Singh, a resident of village Burmajra in Morinda, Rupnagar.

Gaurav Yadav said the State Cyber Crime Cell meticulously analysed digital evidence from platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram to track offenders.

He said during the operation, 33 suspects were identified across Punjab, with teams from field units dispatched under the guidance of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Cybercrime V Neeraja. The raids led to the registration of two First Information Reports (FIRs) and the seizure of 34 mobile phones, which had been sent for forensic analysis to recover the deleted data, with more arrests anticipated, he said.

The DGP said based on examination, more FIRs would be registered and suspects involved in CSEAM crimes would be arrested.

ADGP V Neeraja said the cyber tiplines are generated on the basis of online activity on CSEAM particularly on platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and Telegram. The reports from I4C were meticulously analysed by the CCPWC unit of State Cybercrime office under Inspector Prabhjot Kaur to identify the offenders and their locations, she said.

Sharing details about the two FIRs, the ADGP said that in FIR No. 8, dated 26/6/2025, registered under Section 67B of the IT Act at the Cybercrime police station in Khanna district, the accused Akash Babu was not only viewing CSEAM content, but also sharing the content in other groups.

In another case, FIR No. 07, registered under Section 67 under the IT Act at the Cybercrime police station in Rupnagar district, accused Harpreet Singh of allegedly blackmailing a victim to share nude pictures and he had been sexually abusing minor children. The mobile device was seized for the examination of the deleted data, she said, adding that investigation in both cases was in progress.

Neeraja said under Section 67-B of the IT Act, 2000, and Section 15 of the POCSO Act, viewing, distributing or storing child pornographic material was a serious criminal offence, punishable with up to five years of imprisonment and a fine up to ₹10 lakh.

Punjab