While CCTV cameras are meant to enhance safety, their misuse has become increasingly pervasive — as seen in this recent incident on the Purvanchal Expressway.
A toll-plaza employee at the Haliyapur toll plaza on Purvanchal Expressway, identified as Ashutosh Biswas, who served as assistant manager of the surveillance/ATMS system, is accused of misusing CCTV cameras to record private moments of travellers, including a newly-married couple inside their car.
According to a complaint, the couple was confronted after the recording, threatened that the video would be made public, and extorted for ₹32,000 to prevent it. Even after payment, the video was circulated on social media, as per the report.
After the video was exposed, multiple victims filed a joint complaint, four employees of the toll plaza — including the assistant manager and other staff — were removed from service and booked by police.
Police have registered a case of extortion and privacy breach. Some accused have been arrested and jailed, while an investigation is ongoing to examine CCTV records, the scope of alleged misuse, and whether more victims exist.
