Prateeksha Thakur
New Delhi, December 2024
In a disturbing incident, the director of a Noida-based play school was arrested for secretly installing a spy camera in the teachers’ washroom. The device, concealed within a bulb holder, allowed the accused to live-stream footage on his personal computer and mobile phone.
The incident happened at “Learn with Fun,” a play school in Noida’s Sector 70. On December 10, a teacher noticed an unusual light coming from the bulb holder in the washroom. Suspecting something amiss, she inspected it closely and found a hidden spy camera.
The teacher reported the matter to the school director, Navnish Sahay, and coordinator, Parul, but no action was taken. Instead, both allegedly denied the charges. Dissatisfied with their response, the teacher reported the matter to the police.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Shakti Mohan Awasthi led the investigation, which confirmed that the camera was operational and capable of live-streaming footage without recording it. The director, Navnish Sahay, admitted during interrogation that he purchased the spy camera online for ₹22,000. The device was designed to blend seamlessly into everyday objects, making it nearly undetectable without close scrutiny.
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During interrogation, Sahay admitted to purchasing the camera online for ₹22,000. The device was specifically designed to blend seamlessly into everyday objects like bulb holders, making it extremely difficult to detect without close inspection.
Not an Isolated Incident
Incidents like these are, unfortunately, not new. Earlier this year, a similar case was reported in Delhi’s Shakarpur area, where a man was arrested for hiding spy cameras in his tenant’s washroom and bedroom. The victim, who was a civil service aspirant, discovered the camera concealed in a bulb holder in her bathroom.
The Growing Misuse of Spy Cameras
Spy cameras, designed to capture footage discreetly, are often disguised as everyday objects like pens, clocks, buttons, or light fixtures. While these devices have legitimate uses in security and surveillance, their misuse raises serious ethical and legal concerns.
With the increasing misuse of spy cameras, it’s crucial to stay vigilant and know how to identify them. Here are four effective methods:
- Physical Inspection
Look for unusual objects or slight changes in your environment. Such cameras are often hidden in items like clocks, pens, light fixtures, or electrical sockets. - Use a Flashlight or Lens Detector
The camera lenses often reflect light, so switch off the lights and use a flashlight to scan the room. You can also use lens detectors, which are available online, to help find hidden cameras. - Wi-Fi Network Scanning
Use apps like Fing to scan for connected devices on the local Wi-Fi network. Hidden cameras often connect to the same network to stream footage. - Use Your Mobile Phone
Switch off the lights and use your phone’s camera to look for infrared light sources, which are invisible to the naked eye but detectable through the camera.
Legal and Ethical Questions
The increasing misuse of spy cameras highlights gaps in India’s privacy laws. While CCTV systems, when used responsibly, are powerful tools for security, unauthorized surveillance violates fundamental privacy rights. The absence of a comprehensive data protection and privacy law leaves individuals vulnerable to such violations.
As surveillance technologies advance, a balance must be struck between personal privacy and public security needs. Strict laws and ethical guidelines governing the use of spy cameras and surveillance systems are urgently required to ensure that such incidents do not recur.
NI Bureau
