The 4TB hard disk seized from YouTuber Masthan Sai contained private videos, retrieved from the phones of the owner of a popular South Indian eatery in Gachibowli and a popular Telugu actor.
The first information report (FIR) of the case, a copy of which is in the possession of The Hindu, states that the hard disk reportedly also contained hacked personal data, private images and videos of several victims.
The complainant also claimed that she was also a victim of Sai, citing that he recorded 40 video calls with her without consent and hacked into all her email accounts. In her complaint, she stated that Sai physically and sexually assaulted her when she confronted him about the videos at his sister’s wedding in Guntur in 2023. Following her complaint, he was booked by the Pattabhipuram police station.
Since then, she has been residing at actor Raj Tarun’s residence in Hyderabad. The complaint further states that Masthan Sai attempted to intimidate and manipulate his victims, allegedly setting up false cases against them. In the case of the complainant, he allegedly sent drugs to her residence through an associate and recorded her opening the package as part of an alleged setup.
On January 31, Sai allegedly broke into the complainant’s residence demanding the return of the hard disk. When she refused, he attempted to strangulate her and damaged her property. On February 2, he reportedly returned with accomplices, took her brother hostage, and demanded the return of the hard disk.
Fearing further harm, the complainant submitted the hard disk to the police as evidence and urged them to seize the remaining two disks suspected to be in Masthan Sai’s possession.
Sai was arrested on February 3 in connection with an alleged large-scale cybercrime and sexual exploitation case involving illegally recorded private videos and hacked personal data of multiple women, including teenagers.
According to the complainant, she became acquainted with Masthan Sai through a mutual friend in 2022 and in November 2024, she obtained a 4TB hard disk from his residence, which allegedly contained hundreds of secretly recorded explicit videos of married and unmarried women.
Further allegations state that Masthan Sai engaged in hacking teenage girls’ mobile phones, illegally accessing their Google and iCloud accounts. He is also accused of administering drugs to women, taking advantage of them, and recording illicit videos. Additionally, he allegedly deceived multiple women under false promises of marriage.
The hard disk also contained numerous call recordings, explicit videos, photographs, details of his criminal activities, escape plans and conversations with advocates aimed at managing legal consequences.
On February 4, the police sent the hard disk to the Telangana Forensic Science Laboratory for analysis. Efforts are under way to retrieve the remaining digital evidence.
Authorities are now working to retrieve the remaining digital evidence and ensure justice for the victims involved.
Published – February 07, 2025 10:47 am IST