New Delhi, July 19: In a decisive operation aimed at protecting children from online sexual exploitation and strengthening digital safety, the capital’s Central District Police arrested 10 accused in a coordinated enforcement drive against accessing, uploading, and circulating Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM), officials said on Sunday.

An official statement said that the operation was initiated following detailed analysis of digital indicators and international cyber tip-line inputs, which pointed towards illegal online activities involving CSEAM. Subsequent technical verification confirmed the transmission of prohibited material, leading to the registration of criminal cases and coordinated action across the district.

To ensure simultaneous action against multiple identified targets, dedicated police teams were constituted across all police stations in the Central District. The operation was conducted under the overall supervision of Delhi’s Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (Crime) Rohit Rajbir Singh.

According to investigators, the police teams conducted coordinated field operations at different locations over the last five days based on technical intelligence, digital scrutiny, and electronic tracing, which resulted in the identification and apprehension of the accused persons.

A total of 10 FIRs have been registered under the relevant provisions of the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act and the Information Technology Act at various Police Stations (PS), including – PS IP Estate, PS Paharganj, PS Jama Masjid, PS Kamla Market, PS Patel Nagar and PS Chandni Mahal.

Accordingly, a total of 10 accused persons have been arrested during the coordinated drive.

The arrested accused were found to be directly linked to the uploading and circulation of Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM). Their identities are being dealt with in accordance with the ongoing investigation and applicable legal provisions.

Police said that mobile phones used by the accused persons and other digital hardware used in the commission of the offences have been seized during the investigation.

All seized devices have been secured and are being subjected to comprehensive forensic examination.

Further investigation into the case is underway as technical experts are conducting detailed forensic analysis of the seized electronic devices and auditing additional digital footprints.

Sustained legal proceedings are also underway, and the teams are continuously monitoring additional internet footprints. As the technical analysis of the remaining datasets progresses, further arrests are likely in these cases, officials said.

New Delhi, July 19: In a significant breakthrough, the Delhi Police cyber cell has solved a cheating and sextortion case involving around Rs 5.80 lakh and arrested three youths, officials said on Sunday.

An official statement said that the Cyber Police Station of the national capital’s north-east district solved the case registered vide e-FIR No. 00126/2026 under Sections 308/318(4)/319/340 BNS, by arresting three accused persons for their involvement in a sextortion-based cyber fraud.

The arrested accused have been identified as 18-year-old Rajesh, 22-year-old Kunal and 23-year-old Imran. All of them are residents of Haryana’s Faridabad.

According to the police, the complainant, K.L. Tripathi, a resident of Delhi’s Ganga Vihar area, reported that on May 6, he received a WhatsApp video call from an unknown woman who impersonated one of his social media friends. She lured him into removing his clothes during the call and secretly recorded an obscene video.

Thereafter, Tripathi said that he continued to receive calls from various unknown numbers, with the callers posing as police officers, social media officials, and government authorities. They threatened to make the video viral, implicate him in legal proceedings, and have him arrested unless he paid money.

Under constant intimidation and fear, the complainant transferred approximately Rs 5.80 lakh in multiple instalments through different bank accounts, UPI IDs, and QR codes.

Upon realising that he had been duped, Tripathi approached the Cyber Police Station and lodged a complaint.

Officials said that subsequently, a dedicated team led by Inspector Rahul Kumar (SHO/Cyber), comprising Sub Inspector Mohit, ASI Manoj, Head Constable Sandeep, Constable Kapil, and Ct. Abhishek was formed, and they launched a meticulous financial and technical investigation.

The team traced a portion of the cheated amount to mule bank accounts belonging to accused Rajesh and Kunal.

The accused, Rajesh, was arrested on June 17. After further investigation and drawing a detailed analysis of the financial trail, another account holder, Kunal, was identified and arrested. Based on his disclosure, the third accused, Imran, who was involved in withdrawing the cheated money from ATMs, was also apprehended.

A mobile phone, along with a SIM card, used in the commission of the crime, was recovered from the third accused.

During sustained interrogation, the accused disclosed the involvement of a well-organised sextortion syndicate operating from the Mewat region of Rajasthan.

Investigators have not found any previous criminal involvement of any of the three arrested accused.

Mumbai, July 18: The ED filed a charge sheet against self-proclaimed ‘godman’ Ashokkumar Eknath Kharat @Captain @ Bondhu Baba, his wife and four others for money-laundering linked to an extortion racket run under the guise of spiritual practices, an official statement said on Saturday.

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Mumbai Zonal Office, filed the charge sheet against Kharat, his wife Kalpana Kharat and other accused before the Special Court (PMLA), Mumbai.

Assets worth Rs 36.90 crore have been attached, seized or frozen in the case till date in the case, the statement said.

Earlier, the ED had also arrested Kharat on May 19 under Section 19 of the PMLA for the offence of money-laundering, and he continues to be in judicial custody.

On July 15, the ED provisionally attached immovable properties worth Rs 19.20 crore under Section 5 of the PMLA, 2002, held in the names of the accused and his family members, it said.

This was in addition to assets worth Rs 17.70 crore seized/frozen during searches conducted under Section 17 of the PMLA at multiple premises, bank lockers and vehicles linked to the accused and his associates during April and May 2026, said the ED.

The ED had initiated an investigation against Kharat based on multiple FIRs registered by Sarkar Wada, Shirdi, Sinnar and Rahata Police Stations.

Investigation revealed that Kharat exploited the religious faith of devotees and dishonestly induced them to part with money and properties under the pretext of performing “Avatar Poojas”, curing illnesses, averting misfortune and ensuring business prosperity, thereby generating Proceeds of Crime through extortion, cheating and criminal intimidation, the ED said.

Investigation also revealed that Kharat falsely projected himself as possessing divine powers and as an incarnation of Lord Shiva to deceive devotees, the ED said.

He laundered the Proceeds of Crime through two cooperative credit societies by fraudulently operating over multiple accounts in connivance with an employee and through multiple benami accounts for large cash deposits and subsequent withdrawals, including maturity proceeds, the ED said.

The laundered funds were retained with trusted associates or invested in immovable properties across Nashik, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Pune and Mumbai in the names of his family members, the ED said.