CBI searchs are being carried out across 14 states.
In a major crackdown on online child sex abuse, the CBI today carried out searches at 76 locations spread across 14 states and charged more than 80 people for circulating child sex abuse content on social media.
Twenty-three cases under the IT Act were filed on Sunday by the probe agency against 83 people over allegations linked to online child sexual abuse and exploitation. They have been accused of posting and circulating objectionable content online.
Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh are the states where the searches are being carried out.
One WhatsApp group with 31 members is a key focus of the investigation. All the members have been listed as accused; they allegedly shared material linked to child sex abuse that was further circulated, sources said.
A separate unit has been set up by the agency to probe such cases.
The CBI has registered around 40 cases since January, which are linked to online child sex exploitation.