Hackers breach Telangana HC site, link PDFs to betting portal
HYDERABAD: Cybercrime police have registered a case for unauthorised access and identity theft after unidentified offenders allegedly hacked the Telangana High Court website and altered PDF files uploaded on the platform.
PDFs routed to betting site
According to police, the hackers linked several PDF files on the court’s official website to an online betting portal called BDG Slot. The breach was first detected on November 10, when users attempting to open certain files were redirected to the gaming page.
The complaint was filed by T Venkateswara Rao, registrar (IT–High Court), with the Telangana director general of police. Based on the complaint, police booked a case under Sections 66 read with 43, 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act, Section 337 (forgery of court record or public register) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and Section 3(1)(i) of the Telangana Gaming Act.
NIC reviewing functionality
In his letter, Rao stated: “The pages were redirecting to a gaming application/site by name BDG Slot, which clearly amounts to hacking and commission of a cybercrime affecting the reputation of the High Court. The NIC officials are enquiring into the hacking of the PDF documents and their report is yet to be received.”
A police team visited the High Court on Friday to collect technical details. “The site’s functionality is being reviewed by the NIC. We will analyse the NIC enquiry report to identify and nab the accused,” an official from the investigating team said.
HC website hosted on NIC servers
Court officials confirmed that the Telangana High Court website, hosted on National Informatics Centre servers at BRKR Bhavan, carries cause lists and other documents most of them in PDF format.
