Wed Apr 30 11:52:37 UTC 2025: ## CBI Busts International Child Exploitation Rings Following US Operation Hawk Leads
**Bengaluru, April 30, 2025** – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two men, Sheik Muizz Ahmed of Mangaluru and Mukul Saini of Delhi, for their involvement in separate international child sexual exploitation rings. The arrests follow leads provided by the US-led Operation Hawk, a coordinated effort to combat online child sexual abuse.
Ahmed, operating under the username “heisenberg7343” on the Discord platform, allegedly engaged in sexually explicit online chats with a minor girl from the US, coercing her into sharing obscene images and videos. A CBI raid of his Mangaluru and Mumbai residences yielded electronic devices containing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). He has been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Information Technology Act, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Saini, active on Discord and Arisu, employed similar tactics to exploit a US minor, threatening to release her images online if she refused to comply. Searches in Delhi uncovered further incriminating digital evidence on his electronic devices. He faces similar charges as Ahmed.
These arrests build upon the CBI’s previous operations, Operation Carbon (2021) and Operation Megh Chakra (2022), demonstrating a continued commitment to combating international child sexual exploitation. The CBI’s swift action highlights the growing importance of international collaboration in tackling this transnational crime.
First Piper 