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A CBI court in Lucknow has convicted and sentenced a former junior engineer of the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department and a private individual in a case involving the publication and transmission of child sexual abuse and exploitative material in electronic form.
The court sentenced Rambhawan, who was then serving as a Junior Engineer in the UP Irrigation Department, to three years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine. The second accused, Nilesh Baliram Gore, a private person, was sentenced to one year of rigorous imprisonment with a fine.
The judgment was delivered on October 31, 2026.
CBI Registered Case in 2022
The Central Bureau of Investigation registered the case on April 23, 2022.
According to the agency, the case involved allegations relating to the collection, transmission and publication of child sexual abuse and exploitative material through online platforms.
During the course of the investigation, the CBI conducted searches at locations in Bhusawal and Jalgaon in Maharashtra.
Digital devices were seized during the searches and subsequently examined as part of the investigation.
The agency said the digital evidence formed part of the material collected during the probe into the alleged online circulation of such content.
Charge Sheet Filed Against Both Accused
After completing its investigation, the CBI filed a charge sheet against Rambhawan and Nilesh Baliram Gore on December 30, 2022.
The trial court later framed charges against the two accused on July 21, 2026.
The matter then proceeded to trial before the CBI court in Lucknow.
Following the trial, the court found both accused guilty.
Rambhawan was awarded three years of rigorous imprisonment with a fine, while Gore was sentenced to one year of rigorous imprisonment with a fine.
The CBI press release did not specify the exact amount of the fines imposed on the two convicts.
Case Involved Online Publication and Transmission
The prosecution centred on the alleged collection, transmission and publication of child sexual abuse and exploitative material in electronic form.
The CBI said the offences involved the use of online platforms, bringing the case within the wider category of technology-enabled child sexual exploitation offences.
The investigation included examination of seized digital devices, which formed an important part of the evidence-gathering process.
The case also involved searches outside Uttar Pradesh, including locations in Maharashtra, indicating that the investigation extended across state boundaries.
CBI Reiterates Focus on Child Exploitation Cases
Following the conviction, the CBI said it continues to give high priority to cases involving child sexual abuse and exploitation.
The agency said such investigations are pursued with due regard to the safety, rights and dignity of children.
The conviction marks the conclusion of the trial in a case that began with the registration of the CBI case in April 2022 and proceeded through investigation, digital evidence examination, filing of the charge sheet and framing of charges before sentencing in October 2026.
The case also underlines the increasing role of digital evidence in investigations involving the online transmission and publication of child sexual abuse and exploitative material.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
