JioStar Complaint Triggers Odisha Police Action Against Cable Piracy Network

Odisha Police have launched enforcement action against an alleged cable piracy operation after a complaint from broadcaster JioStar, seizing equipment that investigators believe was being used to unlawfully retransmit the company’s television channels.

The action followed a criminal complaint filed by JioStar, which alleged that its copyrighted pay television content was being distributed without authorisation through a local cable network in Odisha. Based on the complaint, police registered a First Information Report (FIR) under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Copyright Act, 1957, and the Information Technology Act, before carrying out a search operation at the operator’s premises. 

During the raid, officers confiscated transmission equipment and other electronic devices suspected of facilitating the unauthorised distribution of JioStar’s channels. The seized material is expected to undergo forensic examination as investigators seek to determine the scale of the alleged infringement and identify the source of the illegally retransmitted broadcast signals. 

According to the complaint, the cable network had allegedly been redistributing JioStar’s copyrighted television channels without securing the necessary commercial authorisation from the broadcaster. Such unauthorised retransmission, investigators said, may amount to violations of both copyright law and provisions governing electronic communication systems. 

Police are also examining the broader network behind the operation to establish whether additional individuals or entities were involved in obtaining and distributing the broadcaster’s signals. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities indicated that further legal action could follow based on evidence recovered during the searches and forensic analysis of the seized equipment. 

The Odisha operation is part of JioStar’s wider nationwide campaign against broadcast piracy. Over the past several months, the company has worked with law enforcement agencies across multiple states to pursue criminal action against operators accused of illegally retransmitting its television channels and premium content without licence or authorisation. 

JioStar has maintained that such enforcement measures are intended to protect its intellectual property rights, safeguard legitimate distribution partners, and curb revenue losses arising from unauthorised cable and IPTV transmission. The company has also reiterated its commitment to supporting investigating agencies in combating organised piracy networks and preserving the integrity of India’s broadcast distribution ecosystem.