Shocking footage of women patients at a maternity hospital in Rajkot, Gujarat, has emerged, sparking widespread outrage. The videos, recorded during medical examinations, were found being sold on a Telegram channel after being uploaded to a YouTube channel, prompting authorities to take action against the facility.
Seven videos from Payal Maternity Hospital were available on a channel that directed viewers to a paid Telegram group. Prices for accessing the videos reportedly ranged from Rs 999 to Rs 1,500. The content included misleading thumbnails to attract attention, police indicated.
The Gujarat Police reported that the footage appears to be CCTV recordings showing women patients being examined by a female doctor or receiving medical treatment from a nurse.
“The videos were uploaded, accompanied by a link to a Telegram group where users were asked to pay for similar content. To entice users to subscribe, promotional screen grabs were shared,” noted an official from the Cyber Crime Unit.
An investigation revealed that the Telegram group was established in September of the previous year, while the YouTube channel had its inception in January. The group reportedly had over 90 members at the time.
In one clip, a conversation between a nurse and a patient was captured in Gujarati, raising further concerns about privacy violations. Meanwhile, a representative from Payal Maternity Hospital suggested that their CCTV system might have been compromised.
“We believe our videos were accessed unlawfully. We have maintained compliance and will fully support the police investigation,” stated the hospital officials.
However, the hospital has yet to clarify the decision to install a CCTV camera in a location where patients’ privacy could be at risk.
