Cyber Crime Police in Kanpur have arrested three individuals accused of operating an online network that allegedly distributed child sexual abuse material (CSAM) through social media platforms. Officials said the accused allegedly used social media accounts to contact potential buyers before sharing illegal content through private messaging services in exchange for money.

The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to uncover the full extent of the alleged operation, identify additional suspects, and examine whether the network has connections beyond Uttar Pradesh.

Investigation Triggered by Cyber Crime Alert

According to police, the case began after authorities received information through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. The alert reportedly originated from an international child protection reporting system that detected suspicious online activity linked to the sharing of illegal child abuse content.

Cyber investigators traced the suspected individuals using digital evidence, including mobile phone records, IMEI data, and other technical intelligence gathered during the inquiry.

The three accused have been identified as Mohammad Uwais (20), Syed Sharan (18), and Aaqib Khan (22). Police allege that the suspects were involved in distributing illegal content over an extended period. During the operation, investigators seized mobile phones and other electronic devices, which have been sent for forensic examination.

Officials are also reviewing chat histories, financial transactions, and digital payment records to determine the scale of the alleged activities and identify anyone else who may have been involved.

Probe Focuses on Buyers and Potential Wider Network

Investigators have expanded the inquiry to identify individuals suspected of purchasing the illegal material. Authorities are examining bank accounts, digital wallets, and other payment channels to trace financial transactions connected to the alleged network.

Police are also assessing whether the case has any links to organized criminal groups operating in other states. Additionally, investigators are reviewing a separate recently reported case involving allegations of sexually explicit content related to minors. However, officials have clarified that no confirmed connection has been established between the two investigations, and any potential link will depend on evidence gathered during the ongoing probe.

Digital Evidence Plays Key Role

Cybersecurity professionals emphasize that the creation, possession, purchase, sale, or distribution of child sexual abuse material is a serious criminal offence under Indian law. Experts note that digital forensic analysis, financial tracking, and examination of electronic devices are essential tools for identifying everyone involved in such offences.

Authorities also warned that individuals who knowingly possess, share, or purchase such material may face legal consequences regardless of the role they played in the alleged distribution chain.

Legal Process Continues

Legal experts have highlighted that the arrests represent allegations at this stage, and criminal liability can only be determined through judicial proceedings. Under Indian law, every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Police stated that forensic examinations and financial investigations are continuing, and further arrests or legal action may follow if additional evidence or suspects emerge during the course of the investigation.

Authorities have urged members of the public to report suspected online child exploitation or child sexual abuse material through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, the Cyber Crime Helpline (1930), or other recognized child protection reporting mechanisms.

Bihar Police’s Cyber Crime and Security Unit, in coordination with the Patna Cyber Police Station, has dismantled an alleged international cyber fraud and money laundering network accused of routing proceeds from online scams through cryptocurrency to overseas handlers.

Police arrested four suspected members of the network during a coordinated operation. Investigators allege the group collected money obtained through cyber frauds across India, channelled it through multiple bank accounts, and converted the funds into cryptocurrency before transferring them to contacts based in China.

Four Arrested, Transactions Worth ₹14.67 Crore Under Investigation

The arrested individuals have been identified as Gautam Gambhir, Bivan Kumar, Tanay Singh, and Sumit Raj.

According to investigators, a preliminary forensic examination of bank accounts linked to the suspects found transactions exceeding ₹14.67 crore over a six-month period. Officials believe the network used a web of bank accounts to move and conceal illicit funds before converting them into digital assets.

Police said the financial trail indicates a sophisticated operation involving multiple layers of transactions designed to make tracing the money more difficult.

Probe Focuses on Cryptocurrency Trail

Investigators allege that funds obtained through online fraud schemes were first deposited into bank accounts controlled by the network before being converted into cryptocurrency using peer-to-peer trading channels.

Authorities claim the digital assets were then transferred to individuals located in China, allowing the proceeds to move beyond India’s conventional banking system.

Given the suspected cross-border movement of funds, Bihar Police said the case will also be referred to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for investigation under anti-money laundering laws. Officials expect the federal agency to examine the international financial links and identify additional individuals involved in the alleged network.

Electronic Devices and Banking Documents Seized

During searches conducted at multiple locations, police recovered several items believed to have been used in the operation, including:

• Four mobile phones
• Six bank passbooks
• Thirteen ATM cards
• Ten cheque books
• Eight SIM cards
• Six rubber stamps allegedly linked to shell businesses
• A QR code used for digital payments

Investigators are conducting forensic analysis of the seized electronic devices and financial records to identify additional bank accounts, cryptocurrency wallets, and possible associates connected to the case.

Banking Officials Also Under Investigation

Police stated that the investigation has expanded to examine whether bank employees assisted in opening accounts allegedly used by the network.

According to officials, more than 10 banking professionals are being investigated for suspected involvement in facilitating account creation and other banking processes.

Investigators are reviewing accounts opened across 22 bank branches, including branches of major public and private sector banks, to determine whether internal procedures were bypassed or misused.

Authorities have also identified several locations in and around Patna, including Barh and Bakhtiyarpur, as areas requiring closer scrutiny during the ongoing investigation.

Police Warn Against Sharing Bank Accounts

Alongside the investigation, Bihar Police highlighted the growing use of mule accounts in cybercrime operations. Officials warned that criminals often persuade individuals to share bank accounts, ATM cards, UPI credentials, or internet banking access in exchange for commissions.

Police cautioned that knowingly allowing personal banking facilities to be used for illegal financial transactions can attract criminal liability under Indian law.

Authorities also disclosed that they are investigating separate complaints involving unauthorized withdrawals from bank accounts in which victims allegedly lost money without receiving transaction alerts or one-time passwords (OTPs). Those cases remain under investigation.

The cybercrime probe is continuing, and officials indicated that further arrests and financial investigations are expected as forensic analysis progresses and additional links to the alleged international network are examined.

Authorities in Lucknow have expanded their investigation into the alleged distribution of counterfeit medicines, with six pharmaceutical firms now under scrutiny as part of a wider crackdown on fake drug networks. Officials believe counterfeit medicines are being transported into the city through courier services before being supplied to local markets and nearby districts.

The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA), along with other enforcement agencies, is examining the entire supply chain—from manufacturing and transportation to storage and retail distribution—to identify those allegedly involved in the illegal trade.

Six Firms Under FSDA Scanner

According to officials, six pharmaceutical companies have come under investigation over suspected irregularities in medicine procurement and sales, including transactions allegedly carried out without proper documentation.

Investigators are currently collecting documentary evidence before initiating raids and taking further legal action. The probe gained momentum earlier this week after a joint enforcement operation intercepted a van carrying counterfeit branded medicines, leading to the arrest of one suspect.

Authorities believe the seizure has provided crucial leads into a larger network responsible for moving fake pharmaceutical products into the city.

Probe Expands Beyond Uttar Pradesh

The investigation is no longer limited to Lucknow. Officials suspect the counterfeit medicine network may involve suppliers and dealers operating across multiple states.

To trace the origin of the seized products, the FSDA is coordinating with drug regulatory authorities in other states. Investigators are examining whether counterfeit medicines were relabelled and transported through interstate distribution channels before reaching retailers and consumers.

Laboratory Testing Underway

Officials said identifying counterfeit medicines is often difficult because fake products are designed to closely resemble genuine brands. As a result, enforcement agencies rely on intelligence gathering, laboratory analysis, and technical examination rather than visual inspection alone.

Samples collected during recent raids have been sent for laboratory testing to determine their composition, quality, and compliance with pharmaceutical standards.

Investigators believe counterfeiters primarily target medicines with high consumer demand, including painkillers, antibiotics, fever medications, anti-allergy drugs, and vitamin supplements, making it easier to circulate fake products within the supply chain.

Health Experts Warn of Serious Risks

Medical experts caution that counterfeit medicines may contain incorrect dosages, inadequate active ingredients, or no therapeutic ingredients at all, potentially leaving patients without effective treatment.

Experts also warn that substandard antibiotics can contribute to antimicrobial resistance, while patients with serious medical conditions may face significant health risks if counterfeit medicines replace genuine prescriptions.

Counterfeit Drug Networks Remain a National Challenge

Authorities note that similar counterfeit medicine operations have been uncovered in several parts of India in recent years, highlighting the growing challenge of dismantling organised fake pharmaceutical supply chains.

Representatives from the pharmaceutical trade have urged enforcement agencies to strengthen inspections not only at retail pharmacies but also across manufacturing facilities, wholesale distributors, transport operators, and courier services to disrupt illegal distribution networks more effectively.

Officials have advised consumers to purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies, request proper invoices, verify packaging and batch numbers, and immediately report any suspected counterfeit products to healthcare professionals or the relevant drug regulatory authorities.

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities indicated that additional inspections and enforcement action may follow as more evidence is collected.