The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to Meta and the Directors General of Police (DGPs) of eight states over concerns regarding the alleged circulation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and age-inappropriate content on Facebook and Instagram.

The Commission has sought detailed responses on the measures being taken to identify, remove and investigate such content, amid growing regulatory scrutiny of the social media company in India.

NHRC Flags Possible POCSO Violations

The human rights watchdog expressed concern that some of the reported content could potentially fall under offences punishable under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Speaking to media, NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo said the allegations warrant a criminal investigation if the material is verified as child sexual abuse content, particularly where monetised or paid content is involved.

He stated that an FIR should be registered against Meta if investigators establish violations of applicable laws.

Authorities Asked to Investigate

As part of its proceedings, the NHRC has directed police authorities in eight states to examine the allegations and initiate appropriate legal action wherever necessary.

The Commission has also included the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in the matter and has reportedly shared 50 URLs with the concerned authorities to facilitate the investigation.

Kanoongo warned that if police and government agencies fail to act despite receiving the evidence, the Commission may recommend action against officials responsible for inaction.

Meta Under Increasing Regulatory Scrutiny

The latest notice comes at a time when Meta is facing increased attention from Indian regulators over its content moderation practices.

Earlier this week, company representatives met senior officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology following the temporary removal of a video featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi from one of Meta's platforms.

Government officials reportedly sought an explanation for the incident and reviewed the company's compliance with existing content moderation and platform governance requirements.

Meta later stated that the removal occurred because of an erroneous takedown and apologised for the incident.

Meeting Covered Child Safety Measures

According to reports, the meeting between Meta officials and MeitY also included discussions on the company's efforts to combat child sexual abuse material, address AI-generated or synthetic content, and strengthen safeguards before removing content posted by verified public figures.

Officials also reviewed Meta's existing mechanisms for detecting harmful content and ensuring compliance with Indian regulations relating to online safety.

Investigation Underway

The NHRC's notices do not constitute a finding of guilt against Meta. The Commission has sought explanations from the company and the concerned state police authorities before deciding on further action.

The case is expected to remain under close watch as investigators assess whether the reported content violates Indian criminal law and child protection legislation.

A court in the US state of New Mexico has imposed a $942 million (around ₹9,030 crore) penalty on Meta Platforms, ruling that the company's social media platforms contributed to harm affecting young users' mental health.

As part of the judgment, the court directed that $420 million (approximately ₹3,993 crore) be allocated towards treatment programmes for affected children and teenagers. The remaining amount will be spent over the next five years on awareness campaigns, prevention initiatives and mental health screening services.

The ruling follows a lengthy legal battle over allegations that Meta failed to adequately protect minors using its platforms.

Case Decided in Two Phases

The proceedings were conducted in two stages.

In the first phase, the court imposed a $375 million civil penalty after finding that the company was aware of child sexual exploitation concerns on its platforms but failed to take adequate action.

During the second phase, the court ordered an additional $567 million in penalties, bringing the total financial liability to $942 million.

Court Examined Child Safety Concerns

During the trial, prosecutors urged the court to require significant changes to Meta's platforms, including limiting addictive design features, strengthening age-verification systems, improving default privacy settings and enhancing safeguards against child sexual exploitation.

The case centred on allegations that Meta's platforms exposed children to harmful content while insufficiently addressing known safety risks.

Meta Plans to Challenge the Decision

Meta has said it disagrees with the ruling and intends to appeal.

The company argued that it continues to invest heavily in online safety technologies and content moderation but maintained that preventing every instance of harmful activity by bad actors remains a complex challenge.

Legal experts say the appeal process could determine whether Meta will also be required to introduce structural changes to its algorithms and child safety policies beyond the financial penalty.

Broader Regulatory Pressure May Follow

The judgment could increase regulatory scrutiny of Meta across the United States.

Reports indicate that attorneys general from more than 40 states are also pursuing legal action related to child safety and youth protection, potentially exposing the company to additional legal and regulatory challenges.

Attorney General Led the Lawsuit

The lawsuit was filed by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, who alleged that Meta knowingly failed to make Instagram and Facebook sufficiently safe for children.

The complaint argued that the company's algorithms were designed in ways that encouraged prolonged engagement among younger users, contributing to mental health concerns such as depression, eating disorders and suicidal behaviour.

The lawsuit also alleged that Meta failed to adequately address the misuse of its platforms for child sexual exploitation despite being aware of the risks.

Court Notes Limits of Federal Privacy Law

While examining proposed remedies, the court observed that the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)limits the extent to which companies can be compelled to collect additional personal data from children for age verification.

The court noted that mandatory age-verification measures involving children's personal information could raise privacy concerns under existing federal law, making such remedies legally complicated.

The judgment primarily focused on financial penalties and funding for youth mental health initiatives, while further proceedings may determine whether additional platform reforms will be required.

Police have arrested an elderly man in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa district after he was accused of allegedly luring a seven-year-old girl with the promise of guavas and committing an obscene act in front of her.

The incident was reported from the Saman police station area, where the accused, a neighbour of the child's family, was taken into custody following a complaint lodged by the victim's mother. The accused was later produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.

Girl Allegedly Lured With Guavas

According to the police complaint, the incident occurred a few days ago when the child was playing outside her house.

The accused allegedly called the girl to his residence on the pretext of giving her guavas. After she reached there, he allegedly behaved in an obscene manner in front of the minor.

Frightened by the incident, the child immediately ran back home.

Child Informed Mother

The girl reportedly broke down in tears after reaching home and narrated the incident to her mother.

Shocked by her account, the family gathered details of the incident before approaching Saman Police Station on Wednesday and submitting a written complaint. They demanded strict legal action against the accused.

Police Register Case, Arrest Accused

Taking note of the seriousness of the allegations, police registered a case under the relevant provisions of law and launched a search for the accused.

He was arrested shortly afterwards and, following preliminary questioning, was produced before the court, which sent him to judicial custody.

Investigation Underway

Police said the investigation is continuing and further action will be taken based on the evidence collected during the probe.

Officials have reiterated that offences involving children are treated with utmost priority and that appropriate legal action will be pursued in accordance with the law.

NHRC Orders Criminal Action

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Directors General of Police (DGPs) of six states and Union Territories to register First Information Reports (FIRs) against Meta Platforms over alleged violations of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 linked to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on Instagram and Facebook.

According to reports, the Commission issued the directions after taking cognisance of allegations that pornographic and age-inappropriate content, potentially containing child sexual abuse material, was accessible through Meta-owned platforms.

The order applies to police authorities in Bihar, Chandigarh, Haryana, Odisha, West Bengal and Delhi.

Complaint Triggered Investigation

The Commission acted on a complaint submitted by a non-profit organisation, which reportedly received anonymous information regarding several Instagram and Facebook links allegedly containing or facilitating access to CSAM.

The organisation clarified that it had neither viewed nor downloaded the suspected content and had only shared the URLs with authorities for investigation, stating that it acted in compliance with the POCSO Act and the Information Technology Act.

In its notice dated August 3, the NHRC directed the concerned authorities to investigate the allegations and initiate legal action wherever cognisable offences are established.

Police Asked to Register FIRs

The NHRC has instructed state police cyber crime units and Special Juvenile Police Units to examine the reported URLs and register FIRs wherever offences under the POCSO Act or other applicable laws are found.

Police have also been directed to identify those responsible for uploading or circulating the content, rescue any identified child victims, produce them before the Child Welfare Committee, and coordinate with agencies including the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and Meta.

The Commission has sought detailed Action Taken Reports (ATRs) from all concerned authorities within one week.

Directions Issued to Meta and MeitY

The NHRC has also issued specific directions to Meta and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

Meta has been asked to immediately remove the reported content, preserve metadata, IP logs and other digital evidence, comply with mandatory reporting obligations under the POCSO Act, and provide details of the preventive mechanisms adopted to detect and prevent child sexual abuse material on its platforms.

MeitY has been directed to submit a report on the blocking of the identified URLs, action taken against the intermediary and measures being implemented to strengthen online child safety.

Inquiry Linked to Earlier BBC Investigation

The latest directions follow an earlier NHRC proceeding initiated after a BBC World Service investigation alleged that paid advertisements on Instagram promoted or facilitated access to child sexual abuse material through coded search terms before redirecting users to Telegram channels.

Following those reports, the NHRC had instructed Delhi Police to conduct a detailed investigation, preserve electronic evidence and examine whether Meta fulfilled its legal obligations to report suspected offences under Sections 19 and 20 of the POCSO Act.

The Commission later issued a reminder after Delhi Police failed to submit its Action Taken Report within the prescribed deadline.

Separate NCPCR Probe Underway

Meanwhile, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has also initiated a separate inquiry into allegations that Meta's platforms were used to facilitate access to child sexual exploitation material.

The Commission sought an explanation from Meta after taking suo motu cognisance of the BBC investigation. Government sources said the company's response has been received and is under examination.

The NHRC has reiterated that every instance involving the creation, circulation or continued availability of child sexual abuse material constitutes a continuing violation of children's dignity, privacy and fundamental human rights, requiring urgent investigation, victim rehabilitation and prosecution of those responsible.

Four minor girls who went missing from Indar police station area in Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh, have been traced safely by the police at Bina Junction. The girls, including three sisters and their friend, had reportedly left home after becoming upset over repeated scolding by family members.

Police said the girls were found within a day of being reported missing, and preliminary investigation has found no evidence of kidnapping or any other criminal offence.

Left Home Carrying Just ₹550

According to the police, the incident took place on Tuesday afternoon, when the four girls suddenly disappeared from their village in the Indar police station limits.

Concerned family members immediately informed the police, following which a search operation was launched.

During questioning, the girls told investigators that they had decided to leave home after being hurt by repeated scolding from their mother and aunt. Before leaving, they reportedly took only ₹550 from the house to fund their journey.

Travelled to Bina via Guna

Police said the girls first travelled by bus from Khatora to Guna and then purchased train tickets to Bina Junction using the money they had carried.

At Bina railway station, local police noticed the four girls moving around in suspicious circumstances and questioned them. After learning that they belonged to Shivpuri district, the Bina Police immediately contacted the Indar Police Station on Wednesday morning.

Acting swiftly, a police team from Shivpuri, accompanied by the girls' family members, travelled to Bina and brought all four girls back safely.

No Evidence of Kidnapping

Police officials said the initial investigation indicates that the girls had left home voluntarily and that there was no indication of abduction or any other criminal activity.

The eldest among the three sisters is reported to be 16 years old, while all four girls are minors.

After completing the required legal formalities and counselling procedures, the girls were handed over to their families.

Police Appeal to Families

Speaking about the case, Indar Police Station in-charge Vivek Yadav said the missing report was received on Tuesday evening, prompting an immediate search operation.

He said the girls informed the police that they were upset because they were frequently scolded by family members, which led them to leave home.

Police officials have urged parents and guardians to maintain open communication with children and adolescents, emphasizing that emotional distress can sometimes lead minors to take impulsive decisions that may put their safety at risk.

Authorities also advised families to report missing children immediately, as early police intervention significantly improves the chances of locating them safely.

During the conversation, Sohail said he regularly encourages his sons, Nirvaan and Yohan, to speak openly if they ever feel uncomfortable, threatened or bullied. He explained that his own childhood experience taught him the importance of creating an environment where children feel safe enough to seek help without fear or embarrassment.

Recalling the incident, Sohail shared that he had carried the trauma within himself for many years. It was only after becoming an adult that he gathered the courage to tell his father, veteran screenwriter Salim Khan, about what had happened. He said the shame he felt at the time prevented him from speaking up earlier, even though he understood later that he was not at fault.

The actor made the revelation while discussing his strong stand against ragging and bullying. According to Sohail, those experiences have directly influenced the way he raises his children. He said he repeatedly reminds them never to hesitate if someone mistreats them and stresses that they should immediately share such incidents with their parents instead of suffering in silence.

Fellow participants on the show responded with support after Sohail's emotional account. The conversation highlighted the long-lasting psychological impact that childhood abuse can have and underscored the importance of open communication within families.

Apart from discussing his childhood trauma, Sohail also reflected on his personal life during the show. He spoke about his cordial relationship with former wife Seema Sajdeh despite their separation, saying they continue to co-parent their sons with mutual respect. The actor has previously said that maintaining a healthy relationship after divorce is important for the well-being of their children.

Sohail's candid remarks have received widespread attention on social media, with many users appreciating his willingness to discuss an issue that remains heavily stigmatized, particularly among men. Mental health experts have often noted that public conversations by well-known personalities can encourage survivors to seek support and reduce the stigma associated with reporting abuse.

The actor's statement has also renewed discussions about the need for greater awareness around child safety, bullying and sexual abuse prevention. By sharing his own experience, Sohail emphasised that victims should never blame themselves and that speaking to trusted family members or professionals can be an important step toward healing.

A 34-year-old man has been arrested in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district for allegedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl over multiple days inside an under-construction building near the Women's Police Station. The accused was caught by local residents after the girl raised an alarm during an alleged third assault attempt.

Police have registered a case under relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The accused is currently in police custody.

Victim Raised Alarm During Alleged Third Assault

According to police and preliminary information, the teenage girl, who reportedly survives by begging and often stayed with her mother at the unfinished building, was allegedly assaulted by the accused after he befriended her.

Investigators said the accused allegedly threatened the girl with dire consequences if she disclosed the incidents. On the third alleged attempt, the girl resisted and screamed for help, drawing the attention of people nearby.

Local residents rushed to the spot, overpowered the accused and later handed him over to the Women's Police Station.

Police Register POCSO Case

Based on the survivor's statement, police registered a case against the accused under the POCSO Act and other applicable provisions related to sexual assault.

Officials confirmed that the accused has been arrested and that further investigation is underway.

The identity of the survivor has not been disclosed in accordance with legal provisions protecting the privacy of minors in sexual offence cases.

Incident Spot Under Scrutiny

The alleged crime took place inside an under-construction Congress building located on Darogapara Road, close to the Women's Police Station.

According to local residents, the partially constructed structure has remained vacant for several years and is frequently used as temporary shelter by homeless people, waste pickers and individuals who survive by begging.

The incident has raised concerns over the security of abandoned and unfinished structures located in urban areas.

Residents Intervened Before Police Arrival

Witnesses said residents reached the building after hearing the girl's cries for help and restrained the accused before informing police.

Videos circulating on social media reportedly show the accused being assaulted by members of the public before he was taken to the police station. Authorities have not commented on the viral footage.

Police have appealed to the public to allow legal authorities to handle criminal cases through due process.

Investigation Continues

Investigators are collecting evidence, recording witness statements and conducting medical and forensic procedures as part of the investigation.

Police said the case is being treated with priority due to the survivor being a minor. Further legal action will be taken based on the findings of the ongoing investigation.

A tragic accident claimed the lives of two young children after they drowned in a historic stepwell inside the ancient Chaturbhuji Temple complex at Kumbhargarh village in Chhattisgarh's Raipur district on Saturday morning. The incident occurred under the Dharsiwa police station limits and has sparked renewed demands from local residents for improved safety measures around the deep water structure.

According to police, the victims have been identified as Sakshi Sahu (7) and Shravan Dheewar (4), both residents of Kurra village in Dharsiwa. The children were reportedly playing near the temple premises when they accidentally slipped into the stepwell and drowned.

Children Fell Into Deep Water

Police officials said the children had gone to the temple complex along with other youngsters on Saturday morning. While playing, they reached the edge of the ancient stepwell, where they are believed to have lost their balance and fallen into the deep water.

When the children could not be found for an extended period, family members and villagers began searching for them. Their search eventually led them to the stepwell.

Divers and local residents joined the rescue effort and recovered both children from the water. However, by the time they were brought out, they had already died.

Police Launch Investigation

Dharsiwa Police reached the spot soon after receiving information about the incident. The bodies were taken into custody and sent for post-mortem examination.

Station House Officer (TI) Rajendra Diwan said a case of accidental death has been registered, and an investigation has been initiated to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

The incident has left the entire village in mourning, with grieving families and residents gathering at the temple complex following the accident.

Villagers Raise Safety Concerns

Following the incident, local residents expressed anger over the lack of safety arrangements around the historic stepwell.

Villagers said the centuries-old structure contains deep water throughout the year but lacks adequate protective infrastructure. According to them, there is no strong boundary wall, fencing or protective grill around the stepwell, nor are there warning signs cautioning visitors about the danger.

Residents claimed they had previously urged authorities to strengthen safety measures at the site, but no concrete action had been taken.

Demand for Protective Measures

After the deaths, villagers have appealed to the district administration to immediately secure the area by constructing protective walls or installing iron grills around the stepwell. They have also demanded the installation of warning boards to alert visitors, particularly children, about the potential danger.

Residents believe such measures are essential to prevent similar tragedies in the future, especially as the temple attracts local devotees and children frequently visit the premises.

Authorities are expected to review the safety arrangements at the site as the police investigation into the incident continues.

A shocking incident of corporate cruelty and substance abuse has surfaced at the Government Primary School in Ratibandar, under the Kesla block. Gopal Giri Goswami, a primary school teacher, arrived at the school premises in a heavily intoxicated state. According to institutional reports, Goswami demanded a biri (local leaf-rolled cigarette) from a young student. When the child refused, the teacher became violent, hurled his shoe at the student, and aggressively grabbed another child by the neck.

Villagers Create Uproar and Lock the School

Following the assault, frightened students narrated the ordeal to their parents. Enraged villagers quickly gathered at the school premises, where they found the teacher passed out on the classroom floor.

Community Escalation: The villagers recorded video footage of the unconscious teacher as irrefutable proof and forwarded it to the top brass of the education department. Local guardians confronted the teacher when he regained semi-consciousness, prompting an apology from Goswami. Out of protest, the villagers locked the school gates. Notably, the school only has two designated teachers; since the female teacher was away on approved leave, Goswami was the sole educator managing the facility.

Immediate Suspension and FIR Registered

Administrative and penal actions were initiated swiftly as the video clip gained heavy traction on social media:

• Departmental Suspension: Taking immediate note of the viral video and administrative feedback, the Assistant Commissioner officially suspended Gopal Giri Goswami for misconduct.

• Criminal Case: A formal complaint was filed by the villagers at the Kesla Police Station. The local police have registered a criminal case against the teacher for child abuse and public intoxication, commencing a formal probe.

A disturbing child-abuse case has surfaced from a daycare centre inside Capgemini’s HAL campus, where videos allegedly show toddlers being locked in bathrooms and placed inside a washing machine drum. Police have registered a case against five female caregivers, and the daycare has now been temporarily shut down.

The videos, which reportedly surfaced on 29 June, show a 2-3-year-old child crying inside a toilet, being splashed with water from a toilet jet, and sitting inside the drum of a front-load washing machine. The footage has sparked outrage because the children involved are reportedly the children of IT professionals working on the campus.

What happened

According to police, the daycare operated within the company campus and was being used by employees during work hours. The alleged mistreatment appears to have been caught on video by a staff member, and the clips quickly spread on social media.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Saidulu Adavath said the matter is being treated as serious, and investigators are still trying to determine whether the daycare was run directly by Capgemini or through an outside agency. The five caregivers are being questioned, but no arrests have been made so far.

Company response

Capgemini said employee and family safety is its top priority and that it is fully cooperating with investigators. As a precaution, it has closed the daycare facility on the Bengaluru campus for now.

The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has also taken note of the case and will seek a report while conducting its own inquiry. That adds another layer of scrutiny to an already sensitive incident involving very young children.

What parents can do

If a child is mistreated at a daycare, parents should immediately inform the local police and report the matter to child protection authorities or the Child Welfare Committee. A medical check-up can also be important if there are signs of injury, fear or trauma.

Parents should also monitor daycare centres closely by making surprise visits, speaking regularly with their children, and staying in touch with staff about daily routines. Sudden behavioural changes, unexplained bruises or injuries should never be ignored.

Why this case matters

This case has raised serious questions about safety standards in workplace daycare centres, especially because parents trust them with very young children during office hours. It also underscores the need for stronger monitoring, CCTV review, staff vetting and clearer accountability in child-care facilities.

The investigation will likely focus on how long the alleged abuse continued, who knew about it, and whether any other children were affected. For now, the viral videos have left many parents deeply alarmed about daycare safety in corporate campuses.

Snap Inc., the parent organization of popular social media application Snapchat, has been hit with a major lawsuit in the US state of Missouri. The legal complaint alleges that the platform's architectural design directly facilitated the grooming and subsequent rape of a 12-year-old minor.

The lawsuit underscores how Snapchat's core user-discovery tools, specifically the "Quick Add" and "Snap Map" features, were exploited by the perpetrator, identified as 25-year-old Gabriel Joel Valentin-Rios, to track down, contact, and manipulate the young girl, referred to in court documents as JF.

App Algorithm Suggested Minor Profiles to Perpetrator

According to the filed complaint, Snapchat’s "Quick Add" algorithmic recommendation engine systematically suggested the young victim's profile—alongside those of several other local underage girls—to Valentin-Rios.

The lawsuit aggressively critiques Snap’s user interface, pointing out that the app effectively framed the adult predator as an approachable, friendly connection. Legal representatives of the victim's family stated that Snapchat fundamentally failed in its duty of care by not issuing explicit warnings to minors regarding the potential danger of connecting with complete strangers via proximity features.

Thousands of Lawsuits Plaguing Big Tech Architecture

The Missouri action is not an isolated legal battle. Silicon Valley conglomerates are currently facing unprecedented legal pushback across Western courts regarding child safety, mental wellness, and addictive product designs.

Pending Litigation Map (US State Courts):

├── California Jurisdictions: 3,300+ active multi-district lawsuits

└── Core Tech Entities Named: Meta (Instagram/FB), ByteDance (TikTok), Google (YouTube), Snap Inc.

The litigation reveals internal anxieties within Snap's executive circles. Documents referenced in court indicate that Snap officials previously intercepted a guide circulating on the dark web that explicitly detailed blueprints on how online predators could weaponize Snapchat's built-in geolocation features to stalk juvenile targets.

Furthermore, a comprehensive independent survey executed by the child safety advocacy group The Heat Initiative revealed that nearly half of all underage Snapchat users surveyed admitted to encountering unsafe content or predatory messaging on the platform within the past year alone.

High Stakes for India, Snapchat’s Largest Global Market

The outcome of these structural lawsuits holds massive implications for India, which currently stands as Snapchat’s single largest market by user volume.

The platform boasts a near-monopoly on young demographics globally, reaching over 90% of individuals aged between 13 and 24 across more than 25 countries. According to market intelligence logs published by Yahoo Finance, India alone accounts for over 25 crore monthly active users (MAUs).

Snapchat Global User Distribution 2026:

┌───────────────────────────┬─────────────┐

│ Region                    │ User Share  │

├───────────────────────────┼─────────────┤

│ India                     │ 36% (25 Cr) │

│ Rest of the World         │ 64%         │

└───────────────────────────┴─────────────┘

This massive base represents approximately 36% of the firm's total global footprint, with the user graph continuing to climb sharply across tier-2 and tier-3 Indian cities.

Matters are further complicated for global social media applications operating within the subcontinent due to strict domestic compliance frameworks. Indian regulatory bodies have already enforced rigid mandates under revised telecom and IT rules, completely banning companies from transferring sensitive user communication logs and personal data outside geographic borders.

With the Indian government prioritizing hyper-local data storage and zero-tolerance policies on child sexual abuse material (CSAM), legal shifts in US courts are expected to trigger intense scrutiny on Snap's operations within the country.

The incident has once again raised concerns over the safety of vulnerable children living on the streets in the national capital. Police say the investigation is progressing rapidly and forensic evidence is being examined.

An 11-year-old girl was allegedly abducted and killed in Delhi's Mehrauli area, prompting swift police action that led to the arrest of a cab driver within hours of her disappearance. According to police, the child went missing early Monday morning, after which her family alerted authorities through a PCR call. Investigators launched an immediate search operation using CCTV footage, local intelligence and technical inputs. The accused was later taken into custody, and the girl's body was recovered based on information provided during questioning. Police have sent the body for post-mortem examination and initiated further legal proceedings. The case has drawn attention to the challenges faced by economically vulnerable families living in public spaces across the city.

According to officials, the victim belonged to a family that survived through daily wage work and informal street vending. The girl reportedly sold balloons and other small items to support her family. Her parents work as daily labourers and have been living on a footpath after facing financial difficulties.

Police said the missing child report was received around 6 a.m. on Monday. Following the complaint, investigators reviewed surveillance footage and gathered information from multiple sources, eventually identifying a suspect.

Investigation Moves Quickly

Authorities stated that the accused, an app-based cab driver, was detained and questioned shortly after being identified. During the investigation, police recovered the girl's body from a forested area in Mehrauli based on the suspect's disclosure.

Officials said forensic evidence and the post-mortem report will play a crucial role in determining the sequence of events and strengthening the prosecution's case. Further investigation remains underway.

Family Background

According to police sources, the victim's family originally hails from Bihar and had previously lived in rented accommodation. Financial hardship reportedly forced them to vacate their home, after which they began living on the roadside.

Police records indicate that the accused is also from Bihar. Authorities said he had previously faced cases related to assault and driving under the influence, though investigators are examining whether those incidents have any connection to the current case.

Concerns Over Child Safety

The case has renewed concerns about the safety of children living in vulnerable conditions in urban areas. Child rights advocates have repeatedly called for stronger protection mechanisms for families residing on footpaths and in temporary settlements.

Officials said relevant legal provisions relating to the alleged crimes have been invoked and the investigation is being monitored closely. Once the inquiry is completed, a detailed chargesheet will be filed before the court. The case remains under active investigation by Delhi Police.