RAJKOT/AHMEDABAD: In a serious breach of women’s privacy, CCTV videos from a private hospital in Rajkot showing women undergoing gynecological check-ups and medical treatment were circulated on social media, prompting the police to lodge an offence.
The Ahmedabad cybercrime branch, which was entrusted the probe along with its Rajkot counterparts, revealed that videos of multiple women were uploaded to YouTube and shared on Telegram channels. The footage was traced back to a CCTV camera installed in the hospital’s outdoor patient department (OPD).
The YouTube channel, identified as ‘Megha MBBS,’ not only hosted the videos but also included Telegram links in the comments section, allowing viewers to access additional content. Several subscription offers to view other such explicit content were also made in the links. Over the past month, these videos have reportedly garnered more than five lakh views.
The hospital, located in a commercial complex near Raiya Crossroads in Rajkot, came under scrutiny after the breach came to light on Monday.
Rajkot’s deputy commissioner of crime (DCP) Dr. Parthrajsinh Gohil confirmed that a team had visited the hospital to gather more details. Cybercrime team found that the videos were first shared on Telegram in Sept 2024 and later uploaded to YouTube on Jan 6, 2025. One particularly disturbing clip showed a woman being administered an injection.
Assistant commissioner of police (ACP), Ahmedabad cybercrime, Hardik Makadia, said, “The circulation of such videos is a grave violation of privacy. A case has been registered under sections 66E and 67 of the Information Technology Act, addressing privacy violations and the publication of obscene material online,” he said.
Police are working to identify and apprehend those responsible for the breach. Efforts are also being made to remove the footage from all platforms to protect the victims’ privacy.
State health minister and government spokesman Rushikesh Patel said that he had been informed about the video leaks through media reports. He confirmed that the Ahmedabad Cybercrime Branch had already registered a case and that necessary action would follow once the investigation concludes.
“There are technical aspects to consider, including whether the hospital’s CCTV system was hacked. The hospital’s version of events will also be recorded. The government will decide on further action after a thorough investigation,” Patel said.
The minister added that government hospitals do not install CCTVs in patient treatment areas to ensure privacy and that private hospitals have been instructed to adhere to similar guidelines in the past.