Mumbai, November 27: The Mumbai police have arrested an administrator of WhatsApp group for adding a woman to a group where pornographic content, nude pictures and video were shared. Mustaq Ali Shaikh, the administrator of the WhatsApp group called 'Triple XXX', was arrested under IPC sections for outraging a woman’s modesty, and under the IT Act on Thursday. The 24-year-old accused hails from West Bengal.
According to the police, the complaint was made by a housewife who said she was added to a WhatsApp group called 'Triple XXX' in September. She initially thought it was a prank by her friend, but later realised that nude pictures and porn videos were being posted in the group. She then approached the police and informed them that she didn’t know the numbers of the administrator and the 12 group members. Child Pornography Racket: WhatsApp Group Comprised of 66 Indian Members, 56 From Pakistan & 29 From USA, Reveals CBI Probe.
During the investigation, the police found that Shaikh's mobile number was registered in West Bengal. However, details obtained from the mobile service provider revealed that Shaikh was very much in Mumbai. He was arrested from the Sion-Dharavi area. The accused apologised and said he added the woman in his WhatsApp group by mistake. He also claimed the group 'Triple XXX' was formed by his friend, and no woman was added.
"During interrogation, he apologised and said that he may have accidentally added the complainant’s number. He said he thought the number belonged to his brother-in-law and did not remember how he had the complainant’s number," investigating officer Maruti Shelke told TOI. Shaikh's mobile phone was sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory to retrieve its data. The police are looking for details of other members in the group who could become witnesses against Shaikh.
The accused faces up to five years imprisonment under the IT Act, 2000. In March, the CBI busted a child pornography racket. The central agency found that the racket was run by a WhatsApp group 'KidsXXX', and had 119 members from 40 countries.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 27, 2018 08:29 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).