iWorld
JioStar files multiple FIRs against Odisha cable operators over alleged piracy
Cable operators in Bhadrak and Kandhamal accused of unauthorised channel retransmission
MUMBAI: JioStar has intensified its anti-piracy enforcement drive in Odisha, with multiple FIRs registered against local cable operators over the alleged unauthorised retransmission of its television channels.
The latest cases have been registered in Bhadrak and Kandhamal, adding to enforcement action previously initiated against operators in Ganjam, Puri, Jajpur and Keonjhar.
In Bhadrak, Bonth Police Station registered an FIR on 2 September 2026 against a cable operator in Tillo village under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 63 of the Copyright Act.
According to the complaint, JioStar channels were being received and retransmitted through a cable network serving Tillo, Jirina and neighbouring areas without authorisation. JioStar submitted video evidence recorded on 28 August, which allegedly showed channels including Star Kiran, Colors, Star Plus, Star Gold, Star Sports 1 Hindi and Colors Cineplex Bollywood being retransmitted with DTH platform logos.
A separate case was registered in Kandhamal, where Daringbadi Police Station filed an FIR on 10 September against M/s Star Cable Network.
The complaint alleges that JioStar channels were being redistributed through the network without authorisation, with consumer DTH Set-Top Boxes allegedly being used to receive and retransmit the channels. Electronic evidence recorded on 9 September was also submitted to the police along with the complaint.
The cases form part of a broader enforcement effort by JioStar’s Anti-Piracy Legal and Enforcement Team to identify and act against unauthorised cable networks operating across Odisha.
Earlier enforcement action in Ganjam, Puri, Jajpur and Keonjhar indicates that the company’s anti-piracy efforts extend across multiple districts in the state.
The cases also point to the continued presence of unauthorised analogue transmission despite the implementation of the Digital Addressable System (DAS).
Through the enforcement drive, JioStar is seeking to protect its content and distribution rights while supporting compliance with the digitised cable television framework.
