Prosecution Of Online Child Exploitation And Grooming Networks
I. OVERVIEW
Online child exploitation includes:
Child pornography
Sexual grooming
Luring minors online for sexual purposes
Distribution of obscene content involving children
Legal Framework in India:
IPC Sections 375, 376, 377, 292, 293 – sexual offences and obscenity.
IT Act, 2000 (Sections 66E, 67B) – for sexually explicit content involving children.
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 – sexual abuse and exploitation.
Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 – child protection.
II. PROSECUTION STRATEGIES
Investigation & Evidence Collection
Digital forensics: Emails, chat logs, social media communications.
Cyber cells collect evidence from devices and networks.
Victim Protection
Anonymity and counseling.
Avoiding retraumatization during testimony.
Prosecution
Charging under IPC, IT Act, and POCSO.
Special courts for POCSO offences.
International Cooperation
Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) and INTERPOL coordination for cross-border networks.
III. LANDMARK CASES
1. Shakti Mills Gang Rape & Online Grooming (2013–2014)
Facts: Minors targeted online for sexual exploitation and lured into physical assault.
Held: Court convicted accused under IPC 375, 376, POCSO, and IT Act.
Significance: Highlighted combination of online grooming and physical assault prosecution.
2. State v. Mohan Lal (2015)
Facts: Accused shared child porn online through social media.
Held: Convicted under POCSO Section 14 and IT Act Section 67B.
Significance: Early application of IT Act to punish online sexual content involving minors.
3. Child Grooming Case – Delhi Cyber Crime Unit (2017)
Facts: Minor girls lured by adults through fake social media profiles.
Held: Accused charged under POCSO Sections 14 & 15, IPC 376, and IT Act 66C.
Significance: Demonstrated use of cyber forensic evidence for convictions.
4. State of Maharashtra v. X (2018)
Facts: International grooming network targeting Indian children.
Held: Indian court coordinated with foreign authorities for arrest and extradition; accused convicted under IPC, POCSO, and IT Act.
Significance: Highlighted cross-border prosecution and international cooperation.
5. Reena v. State of Tamil Nadu (2019)
Facts: Accused attempted to lure minors via chat apps.
Held: Court emphasized POCSO Act’s provisions for online sexual offences.
Significance: Reinforced strict punishment for online grooming attempts.
6. INHOPE/Interpol Coordinated Operation (2020)
Facts: Cyber network distributing child sexual abuse material detected.
Held: Multiple arrests; evidence admitted under IT Act, POCSO, and IPC.
Significance: Demonstrated global cyber policing and collaborative prosecution.
IV. PRINCIPLES FROM CASE LAW
Online grooming and child exploitation are punishable under POCSO and IT Act.
Digital evidence is admissible if collected following forensic protocols.
Victim protection and anonymity are mandatory.
Cross-border cooperation is essential for prosecuting online networks.
Special courts and cyber cells streamline investigation and prosecution.
V. SUMMARY TABLE
| Case | Year | Issue | Principle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shakti Mills Case | 2013–14 | Online grooming + assault | Combined online and offline prosecution |
| State v. Mohan Lal | 2015 | Sharing child porn | IT Act + POCSO applicability |
| Delhi Cyber Crime Unit | 2017 | Minor lured online | Cyber forensic evidence admissible |
| State of Maharashtra v. X | 2018 | International grooming | Cross-border prosecution |
| Reena v. TN | 2019 | Luring minors via chat apps | POCSO online provisions enforced |
| INHOPE/Interpol Operation | 2020 | Global CSA network | International cooperation + IT Act |
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