Cable TV
Haryana Police book cable operator over alleged JioStar signal piracy
FIR follows raid in Sonipat as authorities seize transmission equipment
MUMBAI: Someone appears to have been changing the channel without permission and the police have now pressed pause. Haryana Police have registered an FIR against M/S Jai Durga Digital Network (JDDN) in Ganaur, Sonipat, following a complaint by JioStar alleging the unauthorised retransmission of its television channels through the operator’s cable network.
The FIR, registered on 6 July 2026, invokes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Copyright Act, 1957, after the broadcaster alleged that the cable operator had infringed its copyright and broadcast reproduction rights by illegally redistributing JioStar’s signals.
Following the registration of the case, police conducted a raid at JDDN’s control room and operational premises in Bajana Kalan, Ganaur, where officials seized optical transmission equipment allegedly used to retransmit television signals without authorisation. The cable operator and a technician associated with the network were detained for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.
According to the FIR, JDDN was previously an authorised JioStar distribution partner whose signal was deactivated in September 2025. Investigators allege that despite the disconnection, the operator continued to distribute JioStar channels through unauthorised means, amounting to deliberate signal piracy.
The complaint further alleges that JDDN sourced television feeds using consumer Direct-to-Home (DTH) set-top boxes, including services from Dish TV and DD Free Dish, before commercially retransmitting the content through its cable network.
Authorities claim the unauthorised distribution included several channels from the JioStar portfolio, including Star Bharat, Star Utsav, Star Gold Select, Star Gold, Colors Cineplex, Colors Rishey, Star Sports 2 and Star Sports 3, among others.
Investigators also cited electronic evidence that allegedly captured broadcaster fingerprints, DTH fingerprints and JDDN’s local network branding appearing simultaneously on the retransmitted feeds. According to the FIR, this material establishes that JioStar’s broadcast signals were being retransmitted without authorisation.
The complaint further alleges that the illegal retransmission resulted in financial losses not only to JioStar but also to the government exchequer through unpaid statutory dues linked to legitimate distribution.
The action highlights the continuing crackdown on organised cable piracy, as broadcasters and law enforcement agencies intensify efforts to curb unauthorised retransmission of premium television content and protect broadcast rights in an increasingly competitive media landscape.
