#e4mExclusive:  Haryana Police raids piracy operation after JioStar complaint, seizes cable equipment

Haryana Police has raided an alleged cable piracy operation in Sonipat and seized transmission equipment following a complaint by JioStar India Pvt. Ltd., marking the latest enforcement action by the broadcaster against unauthorized retransmission of its pay television channels. An FIR has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Copyright Act, with investigators alleging that the operator illegally sourced and redistributed JioStar's encrypted broadcast signals after its distribution agreement had been terminated.

The FIR registered at Ganaur Police Station on July 6, invokes Section 303 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, relating to theft, along with Section 63 of the Copyright Act, 1957. The complaint alleges that the accused illegally sourced and redistributed JioStar's encrypted television signals without authorization, causing financial losses to both the broadcaster and the government.

According to the FIR, JioStar holds valid licences from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to broadcast its television channels and distributes them through authorised Multi-System Operators (MSOs), Local Cable Operators (LCOs), DTH, IPTV and other licensed distribution platforms.

The company alleged that Sandeep Kadyan, operating under the name Jai Durga Digital Network (JDDN) in Bajana Kalan village of Sonipat district, continued retransmitting JioStar's channels even after its commercial relationship with the broadcaster had ended.

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According to the complaint, JDDN had previously been an authorised distribution partner but its signal was deactivated with effect from September 22, 2025, following alleged breaches of interconnection regulations and contractual obligations. 

JioStar claimed that after termination of the agreement, the operator had no legal right to receive, decrypt or redistribute any of its channels, making any subsequent transmission an act of piracy.

The broadcaster further alleged that the network illegally sourced television feeds using consumer Direct-to-Home (DTH) set-top boxes, which are intended solely for household viewing and cannot legally be used for commercial cable redistribution.

To support its allegations, JioStar submitted electronic evidence, including a video recording captured on 11 June 2026, in Saiya Khera village under Ganaur police station limits. 

According to the complaint, the recording showed several JioStar channels—including Star Bharat, Star Utsav, Star Gold Select, Star Gold, Star Sports 2 and Star Sports 3 and other channels within the JioStar portfolio, thereby infringing the company's copyright and broadcast reproduction rights.

The broadcaster claimed that the footage displayed identifiable fingerprints belonging to Dish TV and DD Free Dish set-top boxes while simultaneously showing the Jai Durga Digital Network logo on the channels. It argued that the presence of both DTH fingerprints and the local cable operator's branding established that the network was unlawfully sourcing DTH signals and redistributing them over its cable infrastructure.

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The complaint also stated that the illegal transmission infringed JioStar's broadcast reproduction rights under Sections 37 and 51 of the Copyright Act, while also constituting offences under Sections 63, 65 and 65A of the Act. It further argued that the unauthorised retransmission amounted to theft of movable property under Section 303 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, citing judicial precedents recognising broadcast signals as movable property.

Acting on the complaint, Haryana Police conducted a raid at the premises of Jai Durga Digital Network in Bajana Kalan on July 6.

The FIR records that police officials visited the cable network's control room along with representatives of the complainant. During the inspection, police allegedly found Ajit, son of Meher Singh, present at the premises. The FIR states that upon noticing the police team, he allegedly disconnected certain wires from the cable network equipment, after which the television channels stopped functioning.

Police said they examined the video evidence supplied by the complainant and concluded that the footage showed JioStar channels being illegally transmitted through the network on June 11. According to the FIR, the accused failed to produce any documentary evidence justifying the retransmission.

Investigators also seized multiple optical transmission devices allegedly used for the cable network, including equipment manufactured by Catvision, Esquire Optical and Altis Optical. The equipment was seized as evidence after being sealed at the spot.

Based on the complaint, the electronic evidence and the on-site inspection, police concluded that a prima facie case existed under Section 303 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 63 of the Copyright Act.