New Delhi: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has directed messaging platform Telegram to remove or disable access to more than 3,100 channels accused of distributing pirated content, invoking provisions under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Copyright Act, 1957.
In a notification issued on March 11, the ministry asked the platform to take down 3,142 channels within three hours of receiving the notice, while ensuring that the removal process does not “vitiate the evidence in any manner.” The directive was issued by MIB Joint Secretary C. Senthil Rajan and includes a detailed annexure listing the channels involved.
According to the ministry, the identified Telegram channels were allegedly distributing unauthorised copies of films, web series, OTT titles and audiobooks owned or licensed by film studios, producers and digital platforms. The notice states that these channels made copyrighted content available without legal authorisation, thereby violating India’s copyright law.
A senior official from the ministry said the action was triggered through a complaint-based mechanism, with multiple content owners, OTT platforms and civil society organisations flagging the circulation of pirated material on the platform.
The government invoked Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act along with Rule 3(1)(d) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, which obligate intermediaries to remove unlawful content once notified by authorities. Non-compliance could result in the platform losing its safe harbour protection, which shields intermediaries from liability for user-generated content.
Officials noted that the three-hour compliance window reflects recently tightened intermediary obligations under amendments to the IT Rules, 2021, which came into effect on February 20, 2026 and significantly reduced the time available for platforms to act on official takedown notices.
The annexure attached to the notification reportedly runs into 120 pages, detailing channel URLs, names, and the number of piracy links associated with each channel. The channels were found to be distributing content from major streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video, SonyLIV, JioHotstar and ShemarooMe, along with audiobook content from KukuFM.
The government’s move comes amid growing concern over digital piracy in India, which remains one of the largest sources of global piracy traffic. According to industry estimates cited in the MUSO Piracy Trends and Insights Report 2024, India accounted for 8.12% of global piracy traffic, with around 1,756 crore visits to pirated websites, second only to the United States.
Authorities said the action forms part of a broader effort to strengthen enforcement against online piracy, particularly around films and OTT releases, as digital distribution continues to expand across the entertainment ecosystem.
