CBI arrests UP govt staffer for sexually exploiting children and selling pictures to pedophiles

According to an NDTV report, the accused is a junior staffer in the UP government's irrigation department and was arrested from Banda district of the state for "alleged involvement in immoral acts and misconduct".

The accused identified as Rambhawan was appointed as a civil engineer in 2009. In the last 10 years he sexually exploited nearly 50 children and shared and sold such photographs to pedophiles across the world via the darknet, said the report.

Investigations revealed that the accused targeted children between five and 16 years from three districts of the state - Banda, Chitrakoot and Hamirpur.

The accused is under one-day judicial custody, the report said, adding that an order on police custody is possible on Wednesday as the CBI believes that he has been acting as part of a racket.

Police has recovered Rs 8 lakh in cash, eight mobile phones, sex toys, a laptop and other digital evidence, including a large volume of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), informed the report.

The emails on the laptop revealed that he has been sharing CASM with many people both Indian as well foreign nationals, police said.

The accused has confessed during interrogation that he bribed children with mobile phones and other electronic gadgets to ensure they did not speak about his activities with anybody, the report added.