Ahmedabad doctor blackmailed over CCTV footage; accused arrested
Cyber Crime
Ahmedabad: A doctor in Paldi, Ahmedabad, became the target of blackmail after private footage from his clinic’s CCTV cameras was accessed remotely, highlighting serious lapses in digital security. On Saturday, police arrested a 32-year-old former CCTV installer, who had exploited retained login credentials to gain access to the system.
According to authorities, the accused remotely accessed cameras inside the doctor’s cabin and obtained footage showing the complainant receiving a body massage. The video was later used to threaten and extort money.
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Speaking to TOI, a senior police officer said, "We registered a cybercrime case. The accused accessed the CCTV of the complainant's office. When the doctor was having a body massage, the accused obtained the video and began threatening him. He initially demanded Rs 40,000, of which Rs 5,000 was paid. When further demands were made, the complainant approached police."
The doctor reportedly began receiving WhatsApp messages from unknown numbers containing video clips from inside his clinic, along with QR codes for online payment. The sender warned that the footage would be shared on social media and local community groups if money was not paid. Despite initially blocking the number, the doctor continued to receive messages from other accounts. Fearing reputational damage, the doctor initially paid Rs 5,000 online before approaching the police when the threats escalated.
During interrogation, the accused admitted to installing the cameras at the clinic during his previous job at a CCTV installation firm. Although he no longer worked there, the doctor had never changed the admin ID and password, allowing the accused to retain access. Police noted that the accused later worked as a labourer at a poultry farm and resorted to blackmail after his children fell seriously ill and he required money for their treatment.
Investigators said the case bore similarities to earlier CCTV hacking incidents, including the Rajkot hospital case, where sensitive footage from inside a medical facility was accessed after installers retained credentials. In that case, too, police flagged negligence in password management as a major vulnerability, reports TOI.
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