Kalyan: Advocate Booked for Using Apple’s AirDrop To Steal Photos of Women Lawyers at Court
A male advocate has been booked by the local police for allegedly using Apple’s AirDrop feature to surreptitiously transfer private data and photographs from the iPhones of several female colleagues. The incidents occurred within the Kalyan court premises over a period of several days, according to law enforcement authorities. T
An advocate has been booked by police after allegedly using Apple's AirDrop feature to unlawfully transfer private photographs and data from the iPhones of several women lawyers to his own device within the premises of the Kalyan court in Maharashtra's Thane district, as reported by TOI. The case has raised serious concerns over digital privacy and cybersecurity in professional spaces, with police investigating the extent of the alleged data theft.
Alleged Misuse of AirDrop Came to Light at Kalyan Court
According to police, the accused allegedly exploited Apple's AirDrop feature to gain access to photographs and other personal data stored on the iPhones of women advocates practicing at the Kalyan court. The alleged activity came to light after one of the women lawyers noticed suspicious file transfers and alerted her colleagues. The matter was subsequently reported to the police, leading to the registration of a case. Thane Woman Booked for Honey-Trapping Retired Army Major, Extorting INR 20 Lakh Through False Case Threats.
Several Women Lawyers May Have Been Targeted
Preliminary investigations indicate that the accused may have transferred photographs and personal data belonging to multiple women lawyers. Some local reports have suggested that around 10 to 15 women advocates could have been affected, though police have not officially confirmed the exact number.
Investigators are examining the accused's mobile phone and other digital devices to determine the volume of data transferred and whether any of the information was shared, stored or misused. Kalyan Shocker: History-Sheeter Kills Elderly Woman for Jewelry After Asking for Water, Turns Up TV Volume To Muffle Her Cries in Maharashtra; Arrested.
Police Register Case, Probe Underway
Police have registered a case against the advocate and launched an investigation into the alleged privacy breach. Officials are analysing electronic evidence and questioning the accused to establish how the AirDrop feature was allegedly used and whether similar incidents had occurred previously.
Authorities are also examining whether any provisions related to unauthorised access to electronic data and privacy violations are applicable in the case.
Incident Sparks Debate on Digital Privacy
The alleged misuse of AirDrop has triggered concern among members of the legal fraternity, with advocates calling for greater awareness of smartphone security features and stronger safeguards against digital privacy violations.
Cybersecurity experts have often advised users to configure AirDrop to receive files only from known contacts or disable the feature when it is not in use to reduce the risk of unsolicited file transfers.
AirDrop is Apple's wireless file-sharing feature that enables users to transfer photos, documents and other files between nearby Apple devices. While the feature is designed for convenience, security experts have previously cautioned that incorrect privacy settings can expose users to unwanted file-sharing requests or other forms of misuse. Police said the investigation is ongoing, and further action will depend on the findings of the digital forensic examination.
Women and Child Helpline Numbers:
Childline India – 1098; Missing Child and Women – 1094; Women’s Helpline – 181; National Commission for Women Helpline – 112; National Commission for Women Helpline Against Violence – 7827170170; Police Women and Senior Citizen Helpline – 1091/1291.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 19, 2026 04:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
