Role of financial intelligence in exposing online child sexual exploitation

In early 2023, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case against Victor James Raja, a PhD scholar, who sexually exploited children aged 5 to 18 years. Over two years, Raja coerced minors – both male and female – into performing sexual activities, both among themselves and with him, while distributing videos of the abuse on digital platforms. Given the vulnerability of the victims, none came forward to report the abuse. It was only after Interpol’s forensic analysis of videos and images on the internet that Raja was identified and the case came to light.