In a decisive move to combat digital piracy and protect its intellectual property, JioStar has enabled a significant breakthrough in a nationwide crackdown on illegal content distribution. Acting on a criminal complaint filed by JioStar, the Cyber Crime Police Station in Gandhinagar, Gujarat launched a targeted investigation against BOS IPTV — a rogue IPTV service provider illegally streaming JioStar’s premium content including from the JioHotstar platform, as well as restricted channels.
The racket, estimated to be worth ₹700 crore, involved unauthorised access to Star India’s pay TV channels and banned Pakistani television networks. BOS IPTV was offering these pirated services to Indian consumers at a nominal fee of INR 400 for a 3-month subscription, gaining illicit profits at the expense of legitimate broadcasters and licensed platforms.
Investigations revealed that the content was being sourced through hacked or manipulated consumer set-top boxes (STBs) from authorised DTH operators — a disturbing breach that could have larger ramifications for broadcast security.
Based on the complaint, FIR No. 11201018250 was registered on 14 May 2025 at the Cyber Police Station, Gandhinagar. The charges invoked include sections 303, 318(4), and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, along with Sections 37, 51, 63, and 65A of the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, and Sections 65, 66, 66B, and 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Police action led to the arrest of an accused in Jalandhar, Punjab, and the seizure of 3 laptops and 2 mobile phones, which were allegedly used to operate and manage the illegal IPTV service. The investigation is ongoing, with law enforcement agencies suspecting a broader piracy syndicate with international links, potentially connected to networks distributing banned foreign channels in 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 reiterates its zero-tolerance policy towards piracy and its commitment to work closely with law enforcement to dismantle piracy networks across India. This operation sends a clear message: illegal streaming and distribution of copyrighted content will face the full force of the law.
