Op 'Megha Chakra': CBI conducts searches in 21 states/UT against child abuse material

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday carried out searches in 21 states/Union Territory in relation to the circulation and sharing of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).

CBI launched the operation - code-named 'Megha Chakra' - following inputs from Interpol headquarters, Crime against Children unit in Singapore.

According to available information, the Singapore unit got field inputs from New Zealand Police which, as per procedure, were transmitted to India by the Interpol.


CSAM refers to what was previously referred to as 'child pornography'.

It specifically refers to the possession, viewing, sharing, and creation of images or videos containing sexual or offensive material involving children.

The federal investigative agency carried out searches at 59 locations across Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Telangana, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal, Goa, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya etc.

The CBI operation was targeted at cloud storage facilities used by peddlers to circulate audio-visual content of illicit sexual activities with minors, thus earning the code-name 'Megha Chakra'.

During the search operation, electronic devices including mobiles and laptops belonging to more than 50 suspects have been recovered.

Preliminary scrutiny of these using cyber forensic tools has allegedly revealed the presence of a huge quantity of CSAM in several electronic devices.