FIR, raid and equipment seizure mark fresh action against cable piracy in Odisha

A complaint filed by broadcaster JioStar has led to enforcement action against an alleged cable piracy network in Odisha, with local police registering a First Information Report (FIR), conducting a raid, and seizing equipment allegedly used to illegally retransmit television channels.

According to the FIR, registered at Korei Police Station in Jajpur district on July 14, the case has been filed under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with Sections 37, 51, 63 and 65 of the Copyright Act, 1957. The complaint was lodged by JioStar, alleging unauthorized retransmission of its television channels through a local cable network.

Acting on the complaint, Odisha Police raided the premises of the accused cable operator based in Korei. During the search, officials seized equipment allegedly used to facilitate the unauthorized distribution of television signals, including nine modulators, 20 Direct-to-Home (DTH) set-top boxes, one optical node and one mixer. The accused has been taken into custody and is being interrogated as part of the ongoing investigation.

The complaint alleges that the operator was retransmitting JioStar's television channels without authorization by sourcing broadcast feeds through consumer DTH set-top boxes. Such set-top boxes are licensed exclusively for residential viewing and are prohibited from being used for commercial redistribution through cable networks.

JioStar is understood to have submitted electronic evidence documenting the alleged unauthorized transmission of its channels as part of the complaint. The broadcaster claimed that the evidence established the cable operator's role in illegally redistributing its premium television content.

The enforcement action appears to have had an immediate impact. According to post-raid monitoring conducted by the broadcaster, the unauthorized retransmission of JioStar channels has ceased, with no further instances of piracy detected in the area following the police intervention.

The case highlights the growing focus on tackling organized cable piracy, which continues to remain a significant challenge for broadcasters and content owners. Unauthorized retransmission not only infringes copyright but also affects legitimate distribution partners and subscription revenues, particularly for premium entertainment and sports programming.

Industry stakeholders have increasingly sought coordinated enforcement involving broadcasters, law enforcement agencies and regulatory authorities to curb piracy networks that exploit consumer-grade reception equipment for commercial redistribution.

The Odisha action is the latest instance of such collaboration, underscoring efforts by rights holders to strengthen enforcement against copyright violations and protect licensed television distribution ecosystems. The investigation is ongoing, and further action may follow based on the outcome of police inquiries.