February 24, Ahmedabad: In a significant breakthrough, the Gujarat Police have arrested four individuals, including a YouTuber, for allegedly recording and uploading videos of women bathing during the Maha Kumbh 2025 and undergoing medical checkups at hospitals. The arrests highlight a disturbing trend of exploiting women’s privacy for profit, with the accused operating an illegal network to monetize explicit content on platforms like YouTube and Telegram.
The investigation began after videos of women undergoing medical examinations at Rajkot’s Payal Hospital were uploaded online in February. This led to the arrest of two individuals from Maharashtra Prajwal Ashok Teli and Praj Rajendra Patil whose interrogation revealed the involvement of a Prayagraj-based YouTuber, Chandraprakash Phoolchand. Chandraprakash allegedly uploaded 55-60 videos of the Maha Kumbh on his YouTube channel and sold them to other channels. His Telegram channel, with over 100 subscribers, served as a platform for distributing such content.
According to Ahmedabad Cyber Crime DCP Lavina Sinha, the accused personally recorded the footage, uploaded it, and sold it online, running an illegal business that generated significant revenue. The police suspect the group may also be involved in hacking CCTV cameras at 60-70 hospitals across the country, with Payal Hospital’s cameras compromised between February and March 2024.
Investigators traced the operation to Maharashtra’s Sangli and Latur, where raids were conducted. The alleged mastermind, Prajwal Teli, reportedly earned lakhs of rupees over eight months by selling videos priced between Rs 800 and Rs 2,000. Preliminary findings suggest that hospital IP addresses were hacked from Romania and Atlanta, with Teli in contact with hackers from these locations.
In Uttar Pradesh, three FIRs have been filed against those involved in uploading Maha Kumbh videos, with authorities vowing strict action. Additionally, 55-60 cases have been registered for spreading misleading information about the Maha Kumbh.
The arrests underscore the urgent need to protect women’s privacy and combat digital exploitation. As the investigation continues, the police are working to dismantle the entire network and bring all perpetrators to justice, sending a strong message that such violations will not be tolerated.
Get more News Headlines On Our Social Platforms And Do Follow.
