Child sexual abuse videos auctioned on Telegram: Meerut man on the run as police expose multi-state racket

Police across multiple states have uncovered what they describe as a sophisticated online marketplace operating on Telegram that allegedly auctioned and sold child sexual abuse material, with transactions running into lakhs of rupees. A resident of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, has been identified as the central accused in the case and is currently absconding as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle the network.

According to investigators, the Telegram channel — reportedly named “Lucifer” — functioned like a digital storefront. Buyers were given access to a catalogue of obscene videos, after which prices were negotiated directly through encrypted chats. Police say some content was auctioned, with bidders competing before final payments were made. Transaction records indicate that payments amounting to thousands, and in some cases lakhs of rupees, were routed through bank accounts linked to the accused.

The man at the centre of the investigation has been identified as Amit Jain, a resident of the Bagpat Gate area in Meerut. Police allege Jain ran the operation while maintaining anonymity online and coordinating with buyers across state borders. Officials believe the scale and structure of the operation suggest it was not a one-man effort.

The case began to unravel in September when Dehradun Police detected links to obscene content during a routine cyber patrol on a digital platform. Following the digital trail led investigators to Jain, said Soumya Asthana, circle officer of Meerut’s Brahmpuri area. An FIR was subsequently registered, and a manhunt launched. However, Jain has since gone underground, with his phone switched off.

Further leads emerged when Tamil Nadu Police traced a bank transaction of around ₹20,000 to one of Jain’s accounts, allegedly made as payment for videos. The account was promptly frozen. Police also recovered chat logs from the Telegram channel that reportedly show detailed price negotiations between the accused and buyers, with claims that the videos being sold were “original”.

The Telegram channel involved has since been suspended. Investigators say preliminary findings indicate Jain had associates managing social media and payment operations. Cyber teams from multiple states are now working jointly to identify other members of the network and prevent further exploitation of minors.