UP Expressway CCTV Scandal: Three Arrested for Filming Couples’ Private Moments and Blackmailing Travelers

In a shocking breach of public trust, employees working on the Purvanchal Expressway were found allegedly extracting sensitive CCTV footage of travelers and using it to extort money. This serious violation of Privacy has resulted in dismissals, criminal charges, and heightened monitoring across the expressway’s surveillance network.

TRAFFIC MANAGER AND ASSISTANT MANAGER TERMINATED

The latest action taken by the authorities is the termination of the Traffic Manager overseeing Package-3 of the expressway. This move followed the earlier dismissal of Assistant Manager Ashutosh Sarkar, who was removed after internal audits confirmed the “unauthorized leakage of video content” from the Anti-Traffic Management System (ATMS).

Operator company SCIPL Superwave Communication and Infra Solutions Pvt Ltd has now terminated four employees after internal probes exposed systematic misuse of ATMS footage. Those removed include Assistant Manager Sarkar, Traffic Manager Shashank Shekhar, a system technician, and a system engineer — all believed to be directly involved in accessing and mishandling CCTV recordings.

COUPLES’ CCTV FOOTAGE WENT VIRAL

The scandal erupted after videos of newlyweds and couples travelling in cars along the expressway surfaced online. These clips, originally captured by high-tech ATMS cameras meant strictly for monitoring traffic safety and enforcing speed regulations, showed private moments inside moving vehicles — moments that should never have been recorded or circulated.

According to a complaint sent to the Chief Minister’s Office, control room staff allegedly zoomed in on cameras to capture intimate visuals, saved the footage, and then tracked down the vehicles to threaten occupants with exposure unless they paid money. Some videos were reportedly uploaded online even after extortion attempts were made.

Preliminary analysis of CCTV logs indicates that such unauthorized viewing and storage of private footage occurred repeatedly over several months, revealing a deeply concerning pattern of abuse.

THREE ARRESTED; FIR REGISTERED

The state police launched a suo motu investigation after the scandal came to the attention of senior officials. A case has been registered against four employees, and three have already been arrested — system engineer Pramod Patel, technician Abhishek Tiwari, and assistant manager Ashutosh Sarkar. Traffic Manager Shashank Shekhar remains on the run and is wanted for allegedly circulating the videos online.

During interrogation, Sarkar reportedly admitted that similar recordings had been made “thousands of times” over the past two and a half years, although most were never uploaded publicly. This revelation has intensified the probe into long-term surveillance abuse on the expressway.

NEW ALLEGATIONS POINT TO DEEPER PRIVACY BREACH

In a new twist, a whistleblower claimed that women walking near agricultural fields adjacent to the expressway were also recorded and their videos leaked online. While the operating company has denied these allegations, it has increased control room monitoring and tightened access to surveillance systems until the investigation concludes.

Residents living near the expressway have voiced alarm, stating that CCTV cameras installed ostensibly for public safety now feel intrusive and unregulated. The community fears that unchecked surveillance could be exploited again unless stronger safeguards are implemented.

SYSTEM FAILURE RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT OVERSIGHT

The scandal has reignited a broader debate on data privacy and digital monitoring practices on high-value infrastructure projects. The Purvanchal Expressway, equipped with smart CCTV cameras placed every 10 kilometers, was built to detect accidents, enforce speed limits, and enhance commuter safety. Instead, investigators say the system was manipulated by insiders for blackmail and personal gain.

Authorities are now probing why security alerts were never triggered and how ATMS allowed manual retrieval of footage without proper authorization. Possible lapses in logging, supervision, and access control are being examined as part of a deeper audit.

Senior officials confirmed that investigators are reviewing gadget backups, access logs, and historical footage to identify any additional breaches. The expressway authority has also instructed the operating company to overhaul internal controls, revalidate permissions, and conduct a complete audit of personnel with camera access.