UP Court Awards Death Penalty to Couple for Selling Child Abuse Videos on Dark Web

Uttar Pradesh: The verdict of a very heart-wrenching incident has come in Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh. On Friday, Banda's special POCSO court awarded death sentence to a couple. These are the people who brutalized small children, made their videos, and sold them on the dark web six years ago. The court considered it a 'rarest of rare' case and awarded death sentence to both of them.

Who got death penalty?

The couple's names are Ram Bhawan and Durgavati. Ram Bhawan was a junior engineer in the irrigation department (now suspended), and his wife Durgavati was also involved. Both were convicted under POCSO Act, IT Act, several sections of the IPC and section 377. All these crimes were committed before the Supreme Court read down Article 377.

How big was this crime?

When CBI investigated, it was found that this couple kept exploiting children for about 10 years from 2010 to 2020. 33 children were identified (some as young as 3–5 years old), but in total around 34–50 children are said to be victims. They lure children (by giving them games, money, gifts), call them, sexually exploit them and make videos on mobile. These videos and photos were then sold on the darknet – even to foreign buyers, reaching 47 countries. During investigation, more than 200,000 such objectionable videos were found.

How were these people caught?

In October 2020, information was received from Interpol that child pornography was being spread from Indian numbers. CBI registered a case and arrested Ram Bhawan on 17 November 2020. A month later, Durgavati was also caught. Rs 8 lakh cash, 12 mobiles, 2 laptops, hard disk and pen drive were recovered from his house. All the material was confirmed by forensics. A Delhi man was also caught in this; investigation is going on.

What decision did the court give?

The court sentenced both of them to death by hanging. Also ordered to give compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the victim children – from the state and central government. Durgavati was also accused of trying to influence witnesses.

What message does this decision convey?

This case brings out the truth of organized gangs of online exploitation of children. The court clearly said that such crimes are 'rarest of rare'. Justice was done after a long trial, but imagine – this continued for 10 years. How important is quick action and safety of children in such cases. The victimized children now have hope for support and justice.