A special court under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor girl, besides imposing a fine of Rs 1.43 lakh on him, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said on Saturday.

The Special Judge, POCSO Act, Mathura, convicted accused Shyam Bihari on October 30 for multiple offences under the POCSO Act, 2012, the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000. The offences included rape, aggravated penetrative sexual assault, using a child for pornographic purposes and storing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).

According to the CBI, the agency registered the case on June 17, 2025, against Shyam Bihari following allegations of collecting, transmitting and publishing Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitative Material (CSAEM) in electronic form.

During the investigation, it emerged that the accused had also committed aggravated penetrative sexual assault against a minor girl. The CBI traced the victim and conducted the investigation with due sensitivity, keeping her safety, dignity and emotional well-being in mind.

The agency said appropriate counselling support was provided to the victim, while close coordination was maintained with forensic experts, medical professionals specialising in child sexual abuse cases and child protection authorities.

Special care was also taken during the collection, handling and preservation of digital evidence to ensure that the material was properly secured.

After completing the investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet against the accused on August 14, 2025. The trial court framed charges on October 16, 2025.

Following the trial, the court found Shyam Bihari guilty of multiple offences, including aggravated penetrative sexual assault against a minor girl, sexual abuse, using a child for pornographic purposes and possessing CSAEM.

The court subsequently awarded him life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1.43 lakh for the offences under the POCSO Act, IPC and IT Act.

The CBI reiterated its commitment to investigating and prosecuting cases involving child sexual abuse and exploitation, stating that such offences are accorded high priority, with due regard to the safety, rights and dignity of children.

A 15-year-old minor girl was brutally gang-raped in Mumbai Powai area by six men, officials said on Saturday, adding that all accused have been arrested within 24 hours of the incident.

“Within just 24 hours of receiving the victim’s complaint, Mumbai Police teams conducted raids at various locations and apprehended all the accused,” officials said.

According to the police, the incident took place between October 27 and 28.

The main accused, along with four of his associates, lured the minor to an open, deserted plot located behind a bakery shop on Saki Vihar Road, where the accused allegedly sexually assaulted the victim, officials said in a statement.

Following the incident, the perpetrators threatened the victim, warning her that if she reported the matter to the police or her family, they would circulate her photographs on social media.

“In a separate, related incident, another accused intercepted the victim near a pipeline in Powai, where he molested and sexually harassed her,” officials said.

After facing the brutal assault, on the morning of October 29, the traumatised victim, with the help of her family, reached the Powai Police Station and recounted the ordeal, according to the officials.

“Recognising the gravity of the situation, the police immediately registered an FIR under Sections 64(1) and 74 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Additionally, charges under Sections 4, 8, and 12 of the POCSO Act have been invoked,” police said.

According to the investigators, none of the six arrested individuals has a prior criminal record.

Meanwhile, the victim has been sent to KEM Hospital in Mumbai for a medical examination.

“A thorough investigation into the case is currently underway under the supervision of senior police personnel,” officials said.

Further details are awaited.

In a crackdown against cyber fraud, the ED collected digital evidence and seized Rs 6.40 lakh in cash and froze 11 bank accounts with a balance of Rs 14 lakh during search operations at three premises in Hyderabad, an official said on Friday.

The Directorate of Enforcement, Kochi Zonal Office, conducted searches in Hyderabad on October 28, 2026, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The searches were at the premises related to Allamraju Satyanarayana Murthy and were conducted in connection with a cyber fraud case registered at Ernakulam, the official said in a statement.

The ED investigation was initiated on the basis of an FIR registered by the Cyber Police Station, Ernakulam.

As per the FIR, the complaint was lodged by Nimesh alleging that he was induced by the accused through telephonic communications and chat messages using the Telegram app to make investments by promising high returns, the ED said.

It was represented to the complainant that he would secure high returns by trading through the website www.capitalix.com, it said.

Accordingly, the accused deceived the complainant into transferring an aggregate sum of Rs 24,76 crore in several instalments to various bank accounts maintained by or under the control of the accused, it said.

Thereafter, the accused failed to return either the assured profits or the principal sum so received, thereby committing cheating and criminal breach of trust, causing wrongful loss to the complainant, it said.

The investigation revealed that the complainant was cheated of Rs 26.02 crore during the period from May 23, 2023, to May 27, 2024. After receiving the money, the accused transferred it to various mule accounts operated by them, the ED said.

The layering was done deliberately to avoid detection of the source of funds. Investigation revealed that one Allamraju Satyanarayana Murthy floated several entities in the name of his family members and employees from which funds were layered, it said.

These entities included BTR Industries, Velugu Trading Company, Aasritha Mega Solutions Pvt Ltd., Aasritha Infra Projects and Aasritha Infra Projects Pvt Ltd, it said.

The ED said a Villa Project in Hyderabad was launched in the name of Aasritha Infra Projects and Aasritha Infra Projects Pvt Ltd. The accused has acquired multiple immovable properties from the Proceeds of Crime, the ED said.

During the search, incriminating evidence in the form of documents and digital evidence was seized. The ED said it also identified immovable properties, plots and a villa, valued at about Rs 5 crore.