A Hyderabad couple live stream operation, which involved broadcasting explicit sexual acts on a mobile app, was a desperate attempt to overcome severe financial hardship and pay for their daughters’ education, police reported on Friday.
The couple, arrested in Hyderabad, was struggling to afford the college fees for their two daughters, both described as high-achieving students. One daughter is currently a second-year B.Tech student, while the other recently achieved a near-perfect score of 468 out of 470 in her intermediate exams and was preparing for college admission.
Adding to their financial strain, the husband, an auto driver by profession, was reportedly suffering from poor health and could not cover his medical expenses. Police said this dire situation led them to the illicit online operation as a source of “easy money.”
The Online Racket: How It Worked
The couple was arrested on Thursday from their residence in Mallikarjuna Nagar, Amberpet. Authorities seized several pieces of equipment, including high-definition cameras used for the broadcasts.
According to police, the couple would share both live and pre-recorded videos of their sexual acts with users of a specific mobile app. Their clients, primarily young people, would pay for the explicit content. A live video session was priced at ₹2,000 (approx. $24), while a recorded clip was sold for ₹500 (approx. $6).
Police noted that the income from this racket surpassed what the man earned as an auto driver. To protect their identities from their clients, the couple reportedly wore masks during the acts.
Arrest and Legal Fallout
The operation was brought to an end after the East Zone Task Force raided the couple’s home based on a confidential tip-off.
A case has been registered against the couple under provisions of the Information Technology (IT) Act, and an investigation is currently underway. In a further development, police have also started issuing notices to the individuals who purchased the explicit videos from the couple, widening the scope of the legal probe.
