Maharashtra cyber crime cell arrests Thop TV developer for piracy on Viacom18’s complaint

The Maharashtra Cyber Crime Cell, Mumbai has arrested Subhanjan Kayet, developer of the pirated websites and platform named Thop TV, for illegal streaming and telecast of the contents from Viacom18’s channels and its OTT platform – Voot.
Viacom18 said in a statement that it is working closely with the cyber crime cell to continue fighting against digital piracy and infringing usage of content.

Kayet was arrested and produced before Esplanade Court last week and was sent for five days police custody considering the severity of the offence.

The Maharashtra Cyber Crime Cell has also frozen his bank account in which he has purportedly received the illegal proceeds of unlawful activities.

He was apprehending his arrest for the last few months after his bail applications were rejected by the courts in Kolkata and Mumbai.

Sanjay Shintre, superintendent of police, Maharashtra Cyber, Mumbai, said “Special anti-piracy unit MIPCU (Maharashtra Intellectual property Crime Unit) arrested accused Subhanjan Samiran Kayet from 24 Paragana, West Bengal as he appears to be the lead developer of the Thop TV app. We have sufficient evidence regarding this.”

“We are thankful to the Maharashtra Cyber for continuing this action against piracy. It is important to make the message clear that operating or abetting a business of infringement is a serious offence which affects the creative community at large. The perpetrators will be found and brought before law,” said a spokesperson of the entertainment network.

In July last year, the complaints made by Star India, Viacom18 and other broadcasters had led to the arrest of Satish Venkateshwarlu, founder and CEO of Thop TV.