Mumbai, June 4 (IANS) A Navi Mumbai man was arrested for involvement in a Telegram-based racket for the sale and circulation of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM), said an official of the Maharashtra Cyber department on Thursday.

The accused, identified as Adiraj Rajendra Bait, was handed over to NRI Police Station in Navi Mumbai after intelligence inputs and technical investigation pointed to his alleged role in the offence, said a statement.

Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material refers to any visual content — such as photographs, videos, livestreams, or AI-generated imagery — that depicts a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

On detection of the circulation of objectionable content on digital platforms, MahaCyber investigators confirmed the location in Maharashtra, using technical tools.

The investigators conducted a detailed technical analysis, including an examination of a UPI ID and open-source intelligence (OSINT) inputs, before calling Bait for questioning, the MahaCyber Department said.

During the investigation, the suspect’s mobile phone was seized for digital forensic examination. A forensic analysis revealed that child exploitative material had been stored on the mobile phone for sale and further circulation, said the statement.

Based on the findings, MahaCyber registered a criminal case and handed him over to the Navi Mumbai Police, the statement said.

Established in 2016, the office of the Additional Director General of Police, Maharashtra State Cyber Department, is the Nodal Office for all cyber-related matters in the state.

The Department continuously monitors the digital ecosystem, including the dark net and other online platforms, to identify and act upon cyber-enabled offences, especially those involving CSEAM.

MahaCyber employs a multifaceted approach to address the growing menace of cyber threats, the statement said.

The Department’s focus encompasses the detection, prevention, and prosecution of cybercrimes, as well as fostering cybersecurity awareness among Maharashtra’s citizens, it said.

In a statement, MahaCyber Department reiterated its zero-tolerance policy against the possession, sale, circulation, or distribution of child sexual exploitation material.

Officials warned that strict action will be taken against anyone involved in such crimes, whether through social media platforms, messaging apps, the dark web, or any other digital medium.

–IANS

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