JioStar, a major Indian media conglomerate, has initiated a significant nationwide crackdown on illegal IPTV service providers, leading to the busting of a piracy racket estimated to be worth ₹700 crore. The action was triggered by a criminal complaint filed by JioStar, resulting in an investigation by the Cyber Crime Police Station in Gandhinagar against BOS IPTV, an illicit IPTV service.
BOS IPTV was found to be illegally streaming JioStar’s premium content, including content from the JioHotstar platform, as well as pay TV channels from Star India and even banned Pakistani television networks. These pirated services were being offered to Indian consumers for a mere ₹400 for a 3-month subscription, significantly undercutting legitimate broadcasters.
Investigations revealed a disturbing method of content sourcing: hacked or manipulated consumer set-top boxes from authorized DTH operators. This breach posed a significant threat to broadcast security.
Based on JioStar’s complaint, FIR No. 11201018250 was registered on May 14, 2025, invoking several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, and the Information Technology Act, 2000.
The police action has already led to the arrest of one individual in Jalandhar, Punjab, and the seizure of three laptops and two mobile phones allegedly used to manage the illegal IPTV service. Authorities suspect a larger piracy syndicate with potential international links involved in distributing banned foreign channels in India.
A JioStar spokesperson stated, “This crackdown is a critical milestone in our ongoing fight against piracy. 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, which was formed through the merger of Disney Star and Viacom18’s assets in November 2024, operates a wide network of TV channels and the JioHotstar streaming platform. This anti-piracy operation underscores the company’s zero-tolerance policy towards content theft.
Key Highlights:
- JioStar initiated a major anti-piracy crackdown, leading to the exposure of a ₹700 crore illegal IPTV racket run by BOS IPTV.
- BOS IPTV was illegally streaming JioStar’s premium content, Star India channels, and banned Pakistani networks via hacked set-top boxes, offering subscriptions at very low prices.
- Police in Gandhinagar registered a case, made an arrest in Jalandhar, and seized equipment, suspecting a larger international piracy network.
- JioStar reaffirmed its commitment to fighting piracy to protect its content and lawful subscribers.