Overview of the Noida Pornography Racket
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) of India has recently uncovered a sizable pornography racket based in Noida, within the National Capital Region (NCR), which had extended its operations internationally. The racket was led by Ujjwal Kishore and Neelu Srivastava through their company, Subdigi Ventures Private Limited. This company specifically handled the distribution of pornographic content to various foreign adult websites, intensifying scrutiny under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
Financial Transactions and International Involvement
Investigations reveal that Subdigi Ventures received foreign remittances amounting to Rs 15.66 crore, which underscores the scale of its operations. A notable discovery during the ED's investigation was the financial link with Technius Limited, a Cyprus-based company owning prominent adult sites like Xhamster and StripChat. It was found that Technius Limited had transferred Rs 7 crore to the couple’s account for operations, facilitated through a bank account in the Netherlands. These funds were accessed in India using international debit cards.
Recruitment and Operations of the Webcam Studio
The couple had set up an elaborate adult webcam studio, recruiting models primarily through a Facebook page known as 'echato dot com.' Promises of salaries between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 2 lakh per month attracted many to the studio. During the raid, three women were found actively engaged in streaming content. The studio was equipped with advanced broadcasting tools similar to those used by platforms like OnlyFans, catering to various customer preferences from partial anonymity to full nudity, based on the tokens purchased by customers.
Critical Insights and Implications of the Investigation
This case not only sheds light on the operational intricacies of online adult entertainment but also highlights the critical role played by international financial channels in sustaining such digital networks. The collaboration between national and international entities to facilitate these operations underscores a significant challenge in regulatory and law enforcement efforts against digital pornography networks.
