Mumbai: In a major development underscoring the rising threat of digital content piracy, JioStar has catalyzed a nationwide crackdown on illegal IPTV operations, triggering law enforcement action that uncovered a ₹700 crore piracy racket. The move is part of JioStar’s continued effort to safeguard its intellectual property and curb the illegal distribution of its content.
Following a criminal complaint filed by JioStar, the Cyber Crime Police Station in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, launched a focused investigation into BOS IPTV, a rogue IPTV app that was illegally streaming JioStar’s premium content, including that from the JioHotstar platform, along with banned foreign channels. The unauthorised service was offering pirated content, including pay-TV channels from Star India and restricted Pakistani television networks, to Indian viewers for just INR 400 per 3-month subscription.
The investigation revealed that the illegal streaming operation exploited hacked or manipulated consumer set-top boxes from legitimate DTH providers, raising critical concerns about broadcast security and the misuse of licensed infrastructure.
An FIR (No. 11201018250) was registered on 14 May 2025 at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Gandhinagar, invoking serious charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 — including Sections 303, 318(4), and 61 — along with key provisions of the Indian Copyright Act, 1957 and the Information Technology Act, 2000.
The operation led to the arrest of an accused in Jalandhar, Punjab, and the seizure of three laptops and two mobile phones, which were reportedly used to run and manage the illegal streaming service. Investigators suspect a wider piracy network, potentially with international links, that may be involved in distributing banned channels and pirated content across India.
“This crackdown is a critical milestone in our ongoing fight against piracy,” said a spokesperson at JioStar. “We commend the swift and impactful action by the Cyber Police in Gandhinagar and other agencies involved. At JioStar, we remain steadfast in our commitment to protect our content, partners, and the interests of millions of lawful subscribers. We will not hesitate to take the strongest possible legal action against anyone found engaging in such unlawful activities.”
JioStar reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance on piracy and pledged to continue working with government and law enforcement authorities to dismantle illegal networks, protecting the digital entertainment ecosystem for both creators and consumers.
The case serves as a stark warning to operators of illegal streaming platforms: piracy will be pursued with full legal consequences, and legitimate players will continue to collaborate with authorities to uphold content rights and secure the integrity of India’s digital media landscape.
