Rajasthan Police issues CSAM advisory, warns of POCSO and IT Act action
Synopsis
Rajasthan Police's Cyber Crime Branch has issued a pointed advisory reminding citizens that even viewing or downloading CSAM carries criminal liability under POCSO and the IT Act — and that deletion does not erase digital forensic traces. The advisory is as much a deterrence message as a legal reminder, urging prompt reporting through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan Police Cyber Crime Branch (R4C) issued a public advisory on 7 October 2026 warning against accessing, sharing, or possessing CSAM .
Offences are punishable under the POCSO Act and Section 67B of the IT Act .
ADG Cyber Crime V.K.
Singh noted that digital forensic traces persist even after file deletion .
Citizens who receive unsolicited CSAM are advised not to forward it and to report immediately to authorities.
Reports can be filed at the nearest police station, cyber police station, or via the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in).
The Cyber Crime Branch (R4C) of Rajasthan Police has issued a formal public-interest advisory cautioning citizens against searching for, viewing, creating, downloading, or sharing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). The advisory, released on 7 October 2026, was issued on the instructions of Rajasthan Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar Sharma as part of a broader drive to strengthen cybercrime prevention and raise public awareness.
What the Advisory Says
Additional Director General of Police (Cyber Crime) V.K. Singh underscored that CSAM — material depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of children — is a serious criminal offence under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Information Technology (IT) Act. Singh stated that CSAM must not be treated as ordinary adult content, noting that it documents the abuse of children below the age of 18, whose consent carries no legal validity in such circumstances.
Singh further warned that the online circulation of such material violates the rights, privacy, and dignity of children and can actively contribute to their continued exploitation.
The Demand Chain and Digital Forensic Risk
A key element of the advisory addresses the role of demand in perpetuating abuse. Rajasthan Police stated that viewing, searching for, or downloading CSAM — even without intent to share — can contribute to the demand for illegal content and create further opportunities for offenders to exploit children. Citizens were urged not to become part of this cycle.
The Cyber Crime Branch also noted that digital activity leaves forensic traces even after a file has been deleted, meaning that accessing such content is not consequence-free. This is a significant deterrent message aimed at those who may mistakenly believe that deletion erases criminal liability.
What to Do If You Receive Unsolicited CSAM
Citizens who receive suspected CSAM unexpectedly or without solicitation have been specifically advised not to forward it under any circumstances. They should instead report it immediately to the nearest police station, a dedicated cyber police station, or through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Broader Context
The advisory comes amid growing concerns over the volume of child sexual exploitation material circulating on encrypted platforms and peer-to-peer networks globally. India's POCSO Act and amendments to the IT Act have progressively tightened provisions against CSAM, with Section 67B of the IT Act specifically criminalising the transmission of sexually explicit material involving minors. This advisory reflects a proactive posture by Rajasthan Police — moving beyond reactive investigation to public deterrence and reporting culture. The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) remains the central federal mechanism for such reports.
Citizens are urged to remain vigilant, avoid interacting with or circulating illegal material, and promptly report any suspected child sexual exploitation to law enforcement authorities.
Point of View
Rajasthan Police is addressing a gap that investigators say enables demand-side impunity. The move also highlights the under-reported role of inadvertent forwarding in widening CSAM distribution chains. As encrypted platforms make detection harder, deterrence messaging of this kind will need to be scaled nationally, not left to individual state police forces.
NationPress
7 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CSAM and why is it illegal in India?
CSAM stands for Child Sexual Abuse Material — content that depicts the sexual exploitation or abuse of children below the age of 18. It is a criminal offence in India under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Section 67B of the Information Technology Act, which criminalise its creation, download, storage, and transmission.
What action can be taken against someone who views or downloads CSAM?
Viewing, searching for, or downloading CSAM is a punishable offence under Indian law, regardless of whether the material is subsequently shared. Rajasthan Police has also warned that digital forensic traces remain even after a file is deleted, meaning deletion does not erase criminal liability.
What should I do if I receive CSAM unexpectedly?
Do not forward or share the material under any circumstances. Report it immediately to the nearest police station, a cyber police station, or through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in. Rajasthan Police has specifically advised against forwarding even accidentally received material.
Who issued this advisory and why?
The advisory was issued by the Cyber Crime Branch (R4C) of Rajasthan Police on the instructions of Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar Sharma as part of cybercrime prevention efforts. Additional DGP (Cyber Crime) V.K. Singh communicated the advisory's details, framing CSAM as a rights and dignity violation against children, not merely an IT offence.
How does accessing CSAM contribute to child abuse?
According to Rajasthan Police, accessing or downloading CSAM — even without sharing it — contributes to the demand for illegal material, which in turn creates opportunities for offenders to exploit more children. The advisory emphasises that every instance of access is part of a broader exploitation cycle.
