Gujarat: Three Additional Suspects Arrested in Rajkot's Payal Hospital Cybercrime Incident

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Six total arrests made in the Payal Hospital incident.
- Newly arrested individuals include suspects from Surat and Maharashtra.
- The case revealed an illegal network targeting maternity hospitals.
- Hackers sold explicit footage on platforms like YouTube and Telegram.
- Investigations are ongoing to uncover international links.
Rajkot, Feb 23 (NationPress) The CCTV hacking scandal at Rajkot’s Payal Hospital has resulted in the apprehension of three more suspects by the Cybercrime Department of Gujarat, increasing the total number of arrests to six.
Among the newly detained individuals, one hails from Surat, while the other two are from Maharashtra. Previously, three other suspects had been arrested in connection with this case.
This case has unveiled a nationwide illegal enterprise where hackers compromised maternity hospitals’ CCTV systems, captured sensitive footage of women undergoing treatment, and uploaded these videos on platforms like YouTube and Telegram for monetary gain.
The operation was revealed by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch and Cybercrime Cell, which arrested three masterminds from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Investigations disclosed that Ryan Pereira, one of the accused, had hacked into hospital CCTV systems and sold access to the footage through Telegram IDs. Some of the leaked videos were traced back to Payal Maternity Home in Rajkot, prompting further action.
The Ahmedabad police apprehended Prajwal Taili from Latur, Praj Patil from Sangli, and Chandra Prakash Fulchand from Prayagraj. They had established YouTube channels and Telegram groups to sell explicit CCTV footage of women, charging between Rs 800 to Rs 4,000. The accused allegedly operated a multi-crore business by providing user IDs and passwords to buyers with illicit interests. Reports indicate they received support from hackers based in Atlanta and Romania to breach CCTV security.
The crime branch organized five separate teams to locate the perpetrators. Authorities have confiscated hard disks, mobile phones, bank accounts, laptops, and other electronic devices as part of the investigation. The probe continues to uncover the scope of the illegal operation and its connections to international cybercrime networks.
In February 2025, a cybercrime case arose from Rajkot's Payal Maternity Home & Surgical Hospital, where private CCTV footage of female patients was illicitly accessed and distributed online.
The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch, in coordination with Rajkot Police, commenced a thorough investigation, leading to multiple arrests and revealing a broader network of cybercriminal activities.
The scandal emerged when explicit videos from the hospital's gynecology examination rooms appeared on platforms like YouTube and Telegram. These videos showcased women undergoing sensitive medical procedures, including sonography, breast examinations, gynecological treatments, childbirth, and CT scans.
The unauthorized distribution of such private moments prompted immediate action from law enforcement agencies. This operation culminated in the arrest of three individuals: Pragnesh Patil and Prajwal Teli from Maharashtra, and Chandra Prakash Fulchand from Uttar Pradesh. These suspects allegedly hacked into hospital CCTV systems and sold the illicit footage through Telegram channels and YouTube, charging subscribers between Rs 800 to Rs 4,000 for access.
Investigations revealed that the accused had acquired hacking skills approximately two years prior via Telegram.
They targeted CCTV systems of various establishments, including hospitals, gyms, public restrooms, and religious bathing sites, to obtain compromising footage. This content was then uploaded to platforms like YouTube and Telegram, where they managed subscription-based channels, profiting from the distribution of these private videos.