In a major crackdown on online child sexual exploitation networks with international links, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken swift and coordinated action under Operation Hawk. Acting on inputs from U.S. authorities, the CBI conducted raids across multiple locations and arrested two individuals for their involvement in cybercrimes targeting minors through social media platforms.
A case has been registered against Sheikh Muizz Ahmed, a resident of Mangalore, under Section 506 of the Indian Penal Code, Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and Section 12 read with Section 11 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. The case is being investigated by the International Operations Division of the CBI.
Sheikh Muizz Ahmed allegedly operated on the social media platform Discord using the username “heisenberg7343.” In March 2024, he engaged in sexually explicit online chats with a minor girl from the United States. He induced the victim to participate in sexualized conversations, share obscene images and videos, and engage in explicit activities via virtual platforms.
Following this, the CBI conducted searches at various locations in Mumbai and Mangalore linked to the accused. Electronic devices, including a mobile phone and a laptop, were seized. These contained Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) that the accused had obtained from the minor through inducement. Ahmed was subsequently arrested and remanded to judicial custody.
In a separate case under Operation Hawk, another individual, Mukul Saini, a resident of Delhi, was also arrested. He allegedly operated multiple Discord accounts under usernames such as “Izumi#9412,” “Izumi#7070,” “Deadddd#6873,” and “Arisu.” Saini engaged in explicit online chats with another minor girl from the U.S., enticing her to engage in sexual activities and share obscene images. He threatened to make the images viral if she did not comply.
Searches conducted at Saini’s residence in Delhi led to the seizure of mobile phones and a computer hard disk containing incriminating digital evidence relevant to the case.
The CBI has been intensifying efforts to combat online child sexual exploitation through international collaborations. It launched Operation CARBON in 2021 and Operation Megh Chakra in 2022 to trace and act against suspects involved in such crimes globally.
