Landmark Judgment in Mathura

A special court in Mathura has handed down a life sentence to a temple priest convicted of recording explicit videos of minor girls visiting the premises and trafficking the digital content to foreign buyers. Additional District and Sessions Judge Brijesh Kumar delivered the verdict on Friday, also imposing a financial penalty of Rs 1.43 lakh on the convict, identified as Shyam Bihari.

The case came to light following a coordinated international cyber intelligence operation. Assistant Advocate Rampal Singh, representing the prosecution, detailed that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) formally registered a criminal case on June 17, 2025, acting upon critical intelligence inputs provided by Interpol.

Modus Operandi and International Investigation

According to the prosecution's findings, the accused systematically exploited his position of trust at a local temple located under the Jaint police station jurisdiction in Mathura. Bihari would target adolescent girls visiting the temple, luring them into an inner room under the pretext of offering sacred prasad (religious offerings).

Once inside the restricted area, the priest engaged in illicit acts while covertly recording video footage of the victims. Investigators discovered that the accused subsequently uploaded and sold these explicit videos to individuals and networks operating abroad, drawing the attention of global cyber-policing agencies.
Interpol's digital tracking flagged the illicit transfers, prompting immediate diplomatic and law enforcement coordination with the Government of India. The CBI moved swiftly, arresting the priest directly from the temple premises.

Swift Judicial Proceedings

The investigative agency concluded its comprehensive probe in record time, filing a detailed chargesheet against the accused within a month on August 18, 2025. The speedy conclusion of the trial underscores the judiciary's strict stance on offenses targeting minors and exploiting digital platforms for international illicit trade.