Thaindian News

New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS) There is a steady rise in the number of child pornography cases registered and arrests in India.

Across India, the number of cases stood at 99 in 2007, 105 in 208 and 139 in 2009, Minister of State for Home M. Ramachandran told the Lok Sabha.

The tally for arrests was 86 in 2007, 90 in 2008 and 141 in 2009.

In the same period, Kerala and Maharashtra accounted for most cases and arrests, the minister said.

Maharashtra registered 27, 17 and 25 child pornography cases in the three years respectively. For Kerala, the figures were 20, 39 and 44.

In arrests, Maharashtra’s figures from 2007 to 2009 were 28, 18 and 46 respectively. For Kerala, the figures were 13, 27 and 37.

Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan were other states where child pornography was prevalent, the minister said.

The minister said that punishment for the first offence was imprisonment up to five years and fine up to Rs.10 lakh.

“For subsequence offence, the punishment can be imprisonment up to seven years and fine up to Rs.10 lakh.”