A shocking cybercrime case emerged from Rajkot, Gujarat, where hackers breached the CCTV system of Payal Maternity Hospital. Due to gross negligence by the hospital administration, who used an easy-to-guess default password for their CCTV system, hackers gained unauthorized access. They recorded hours of intimate footage of women undergoing gynecological examinations and later sold these videos on international porn fetish networks.
The breach reportedly lasted from January 2024 to December 2024. Over 50,000 video clips were stolen in nine months alone. These videos were marketed through Telegram groups and YouTube channels like Megha MBBS and CP Monda, where teaser clips lured interested buyers. Videos were sold for prices ranging from Rs 700 to Rs 4000 each.
The case expanded beyond Rajkot, with similar hacks confirmed in Pune, Mumbai, Nasik, Surat, Ahmedabad, and Delhi. In total, the hackers targeted CCTV systems across 20 Indian states, including hospitals, schools, corporate houses, cinemas, factories, and private residences.
The cybercrime unit arrested three main accused: Prajwal Teli and Praj Patil from Maharashtra and Chandraprakash from Uttar Pradesh, who reportedly coordinated with international hackers to carry out these operations. The investigation revealed that most hacked systems used factory-set passwords like ‘admin123’, making them vulnerable.
Hospital officials expressed shock and promised full cooperation with authorities. They explained that CCTV was installed in sensitive areas like labor rooms for security but acknowledged the severe privacy compromise resulting from the hack.
Authorities are continuing investigations and are expected to take strict action against all involved to deter such breaches in future.
This incident highlights glaring cybersecurity gaps in sensitive institutions and the grave breach of privacy endured by victims, prompting urgent calls for stringent digital security protocols in healthcare settings.