Hackers Steal Maternity Ward CCTV Footage From Hospital and Sell It on Telegram
Authorities in India have launched a major investigation after hackers allegedly stole sensitive CCTV footage from inside a maternity hospital and sold the clips through encrypted Telegram channels, raising fresh concerns over the country’s widespread use of poorly protected surveillance cameras.
Police in Gujarat state said they were alerted earlier this year after local media discovered disturbing videos circulating on YouTube. Some showed pregnant women undergoing intimate medical examinations or receiving injections, while others linked to Telegram channels that were openly advertising longer, explicit clips for sale.
The BBC, which first reported the story, said it was withholding the name of the hospital and the city to protect the identities of the women involved. None of the victims has yet filed a police complaint.
The hospital’s director told the broadcaster that CCTV cameras had been installed “for the safety of doctors”, insisting staff had no idea the system had been compromised.
‘Massive Cybercrime Racket’ Across India
When Gujarat police began examining the leaked clips, they uncovered what they described as a nationwide network of hackers illicitly accessing thousands of CCTV systems in private and public institutions.
Lavina Sinha, head of the Ahmedabad cybercrime unit leading the inquiry, said the scale of the operation was unprecedented.
“We discovered a network of individuals spread across the country,” she told reporters. “They were hacking into the video surveillance systems of hospitals, schools, colleges, corporate offices and even the bedrooms of private individuals in multiple states.”
Officers now believe that sensitive footage from at least 50,000 CCTV cameras across India may have been stolen and quietly traded online.
Senior Gujarat cybercrime official Hardik Makadiya said the material had been monetised through closed Telegram groups, with some clips sold for around KSh2,920 and others offered as part of subscription-based access to live CCTV feeds.
Authorities say the case has been registered under multiple serious offences, including violating a female patient’s privacy, publishing obscene material, voyeurism and cyber terrorism – the latter a non-bailable charge.
Police contacted both YouTube and Telegram to request the immediate removal of the videos, which have since been taken down.
Eight Arrests as Investigation Widens
Since February 2025, officers have arrested eight suspects from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Delhi and Uttarakhand. All remain in judicial custody as the case progresses through the courts.
However, lawyers for several of the accused deny any wrongdoing. Advocate Yash Koshti, representing three of the men, insisted they were not the masterminds behind the cyber breaches.
“They are not hackers or cyber criminals,” he said. “Someone else carried out the breach.”
Growing Fears Over India’s CCTV Vulnerabilities
India has witnessed an explosion in the use of CCTV over the past decade, particularly in cities where cameras now monitor malls, hospitals, schools, offices, apartment complexes and even private homes.
But cybersecurity experts warn that many of these systems are installed without proper protections. Devices are routinely handled by staff with no technical training, while some locally manufactured cameras have been shown to contain easily exploitable vulnerabilities.
Cybercrime investigator Ritesh Bhatia said the combination of cheap hardware and untrained personnel has created an ideal environment for hackers.
“Wireless CCTV systems help you access footage remotely, but once a system is connected to the web, it becomes vulnerable,” he explained. “Hackers can decode the IP address and default password. Once inside, they can view live footage, download it or even shut the system down.”
India’s federal government has attempted to tighten regulation. In 2025, it advised state authorities not to purchase CCTV equipment from suppliers with a history of security breaches and introduced new rules to boost cybersecurity standards. Nevertheless, incidents continue to be reported.
The Gujarat case is now being viewed as one of the country’s most serious breaches to date – and a stark warning of the privacy risks presented by the unchecked spread of surveillance technology.
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Hackers Steal Maternity Ward CCTV Footage From Hospital and Sell It on Telegram
