CBI arrests one accused for uploading rape videos

Bengaluru, May 15 (IANS) The CBI on Thursday arrested one of the accused in a case relating to the uploading of rape videos on social networking sites.

"K. Kaushik was arrested here as digital evidence exhibits used in uploading the video clips on the internet was discovered and recovered from his possession," a CBI spokesperson told IANS.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said its officers raided Kaushik’s residence in the city after tracing the IP address to the city from which the rape clips were uploaded.

"We had registered a case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 67A of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 on the Supreme Court’s directive at Kotwali police station in Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh," he said.

The investigation agency used cyber forensics software and interface with multiple internet service providers to ascertain the identity of people who had uploaded the sex videos.

Kaushik will be produced in a court on Friday for judicial custody and interrogation as part of the investigation into the case, the official added.

The apex court on February 27 had ordered a CBI inquiry into two rape cases flagged by Sunitha Krishnan, who operates the anti-trafficking NGO Prajwala in Hyderabad.

Taking a strong view against circulation of sexual violence videos on popular messaging services and hosting them on social networking sites, the special social justice bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Jutice U.U. Lalit took suo motu cognizance of a letter Sunitha wrote after Hyderabad police failed to trace the accused.