Lack of Timely Removal of Obscene Online Content Causes Embarrassment to Victims: Justice Ghosh

PTI, August 24, 2025, Kolkata :  Justice Tirthankar Ghosh of the Calcutta High Court expressed concern on Sunday over the delay in removing obscene content from social media and other internet platforms in cybercrime cases. He pointed out that such delays lead to significant embarrassment for victims.

Justice Ghosh explained that, while investigating financial cybercrimes, officers can trace the money trail to some extent, there is a considerable lack of progress when it comes to removing obscene materials. "As far as the removal of obscene materials from social media and other internet sites is concerned, there is a large dearth in the investigating agency's response," he said during the announcement of eastern India's first postgraduate MA/MSc course in Criminology and Criminal Justice, which will be conducted by the National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS).

Justice Ghosh emphasized that the victims of cybercrimes face severe embarrassment as a result of these materials not being removed or blocked by service providers. Investigators also struggle to reach the originators or service providers responsible for the content.

He also discussed the difficulties faced by individuals unfamiliar with the banking system, which exacerbate the challenges in dealing with cybercrime. He noted that courts regularly receive complaints regarding discrepancies in post-mortem and forensic expert opinions, sometimes leading to inconclusive results.

Despite these challenges, Justice Ghosh highlighted that forensic science, as part of criminology, plays a crucial role both during investigations and at the trial stage. He expressed optimism that the new two-year postgraduate course, the first of its kind in eastern India and offered by a national law university, will significantly benefit those involved in the criminal justice system.

Justice Ananya Banerjee, speaking on the occasion, pointed out that while there is no separate statute on victimology, the concept of victim compensation exists. She commended the incorporation of victimology in the new curriculum, emphasizing its importance in addressing the trauma and pain of victims and providing restorative opportunities for them.

Banerjee also underscored the need for synergy between cybercrime and forensic technology, noting that both fields are interdependent.

West Bengal Police's Director General of Cybercrime, Sanjay Singh, described cybercrime as a "tsunami" in India, noting that its scale is "unprecedented." He explained that the national crime reporting portal (1093) allows citizens to file complaints, with the primary focus being to block the flow of illicit money immediately.

Singh further elaborated that in typical cybercrime cases, the money is often funneled through hundreds of accounts across multiple states and cities, making it difficult for investigators to trace. "The purpose of such money laundering schemes is to confuse the investigating agencies," he said.

In West Bengal alone, Singh reported that around 400 complaints of cyber fraud have been received this year, with the amount defrauded ranging between Rs 3 to 4 crore daily. "The scale of the crime overshadows everything else," he said, adding that India’s recorded annual loss due to cybercrime stands at approximately Rs 30,000 crore, though unofficial estimates suggest it could be much higher.