News Headline
Disney Star registers FIR against piracy group Tamil Rockers, Tamil MV, Tamil Blasters and Pikashow
Mumbai: Disney Star has registered a FIR (First Information Report) against piracy groups Tamil Rockers, Tamil MV, Tamil Blasters and Pikashow on Wednesday at the Bengaluru cyber cell.
The case has been registered under Information Technology Act 2008 under Section 66, Copyright Act 1957 under Section 63 and 65 and IPC (Indian Penal Code) 1860 under Section 420 against R Kumaravel and R Radhakrishnan. As per the report accessed by Indiantelevision.com, R Kumaravel resides in the Yelahanka suburb of Bengaluru city.
While Tamil Rockers, Tamil Blasters and Tamil MV are illegal piracy websites, Pikashow is a third party standalone mobile application that facilitates the free access to content from all major broadcasters and OTT platforms. It has over 12 million downloads.
Disney Star noticed that its Hotstar Specials such as Rudra: The Edge of Darkness, Bigg Boss Ultimate (Tamil), Human, Parampara, Escaype Live and Anupama: Namaste America, its movie library such as “Tadap”, “Kaun Pravin Tambe”, “Atrange Re”, “Hum Do Humare Do”, “Sanak”, “Badhaai Do”, “12th Man”, “Taanakkaran”, “Maaran”, “Bheemla Nayak” and “Bheeshma Parvam” were being leaked by these piracy groups. Its linear TV content from channels Star Plus, Star Gold, Star World and Star Sports was made available on the Pikashow app. The company tried to register a case with the Tamil Nadu cyber cell unsuccessfully for three months finally taking the decision to file the report with Bengaluru cyber cell.
The piracy group sources their content directly from theatre/OTT platforms and releases it on the internet. They distribute content through torrent, third party cyberlockers, user-generated platforms and offshore servers.
The group initially focused on leaking content in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam but of late they’ve expanded their rogue operations to include other languages such as Hindi. The cumulative traffic on these websites is estimated to be 64 million. Theatrical movies and OTT content are the biggest victim of such piracy groups. All theatrical releases are made available on these illegal websites within 24 hours of release. They are able to create new mirror domains to avoid internet service provider (ISP) blocking.
In March last year, an investigation by the crime branch of Faridabad revealed the operations of Boss IPTV that was distributing illegal set-top-boxes (STBs) through various vendors after a police complaint was filed by live TV platform Yupp TV. The company was allegedly stealing TV signals from various Indian and international broadcasters & offering them via its platform.
As major media companies increase their presence on the internet as a means to distribute its content, the crackdown on illegal piracy groups continues.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
