An investigation into a nationwide hacking racket has revealed how CCTV footage of women undergoing gynaecological checkups at a Rajkot hospital ended up on porn websites and Telegram groups due to poor digital security.
The scandal surfaced in February when explicit videos from Payal Maternity Home in Rajkot were found online. Hospital staff initially claimed their CCTV system had been hacked. “Our CCTV server seems to have been hacked. We don’t know how the videos went viral, but we will inform the police,” said Dr Amit Akbari from the hospital.
While several hackers were arrested in February, the probe found that the leaked videos continued to circulate until at least June. Investigators discovered that the racket extended across 20 states, including Delhi, Pune, Mumbai, Nashik, Surat, and Ahmedabad. Hackers had accessed over 80 CCTV dashboards from hospitals, schools, offices, malls, and private homes.
Default password ‘admin123’ made hacking easy
Investigators found that many of the compromised CCTV systems were still using the default password “admin123”. Hackers used brute-force attacks and software tools to access these systems. The racket’s alleged mastermind, Parit Dhameliya—a BCom graduate—used multiple programs to steal login credentials, while another accused, Rohit Sisodiya, exploited remote viewing software to watch and record footage.
Clips sold on Telegram for ₹700–₹4,000
Over a nine-month period in 2024, the hackers allegedly collected nearly 50,000 video clips from across India. Teasers were posted on YouTube channels such as “CP Monda” and “Megha MBBS,” with links directing viewers to Telegram groups where the full videos were sold for ₹700 to ₹4,000.
Cyber experts say the case highlights the urgent need for stronger passwords, regular digital audits, and two-factor authentication to safeguard sensitive data—especially in institutions that handle private footage.