38.6c New Delhi, India, Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Crime, Police And Law

Maharashtra Police Arrests Engineer Running Thop TV App for Circulating Pirated OTT Content

By Nancy Goyal      16 July, 2021 12:25 PM      0 Comments
Maharashtra Police Arrests Engineer Running Thop TV App for Circulating Pirated OTT Content

Maharashtra Cyber Police have arrested a Hyderabad-based IT engineer for allegedly streaming pirated content from various over-the-top (OTT) platforms and satellite channels on an Android app called Thop TV. He was arrested from his residence in Gurramguda, a residential locality in Ranga Reddy District, Hyderabad, on Monday, July 12, 2021.

The police said that Venkateshwarlu was arrested following a complaint filed by broadcaster Viacom18 Media. However, some other broadcasters, including Star India, had also filed a case against Thop TV in the past.

Viacom18 Media reportedly approached the Maharashtra Cyber Cell with the complaint alleging that the Thop TV app was transmitting its content without authorization. However, the local police in the matter were said to be not informed about the arrest.

The police booked Venkateshwarlu for cheating under the Indian Penal Code,1860 and under the relevant sections of the Information Technology Act,2000, and the Copyright Act,1957. He has been remanded in police custody until July 19, 2021.

According to preliminary information, the engineer, Satish Venkateshwarlu, the 28-years-old boy, was running the Thop TV app and its website for the last two years and was offering content at a nominal subscription fee of Rs. 35 per month.

Thop TV gained popularity among users and attracted lakhs of viewers for offering a variety of content such as sports matches, movies, and TV shows from various OTT platforms and channels at a dirt-cheap subscription cost. The platform was also said to have 5,000 paid subscribers.

Confirming the news, Sanjay Shintre, SP, Maharashtra Cyber told media, Maharashtra Cyber cell has done a technical investigation into the FIR and accordingly we have arrested one culprit from Hyderabad. The culprit had used Thop TV as a platform and as an app. He primarily provided free content on Telegram.

Shortly after the arrest, Thop TV became no longer accessible to users. Venkateshwarlu was fetching content to his app and website directly from OTT platforms using an API.



Share this article:



Leave a feedback about this
TRENDING NEWS

sc-holds-mere-delay-in-suit-cant-legalise-infringement-in-ipr-disputes
Trending Judiciary
SC holds mere delay in suit can't legalise infringement in IPR disputes [Read Judgment]

SC: Delay in filing suit doesn’t legalise patent infringement; urgency must be judged by ongoing injury, not delay, to protect IPR and public interest.

28 October, 2025 02:08 PM
society-will-not-forgive-sc-on-denial-of-insurance-coverage-to-health-workers
Trending Judiciary
'Society will not forgive,' SC on denial of insurance coverage to health workers

SC says society will not forgive judiciary if it fails to protect doctors; reserves verdict on plea over denial of COVID-19 insurance to private health workers.

28 October, 2025 05:09 PM

TOP STORIES

delhi-hc-grants-interim-protection-to-kumar-sanus-personality-rights-restrains-unauthorised-use-of-voice-and-image
Trending Judiciary
Delhi HC Grants Interim Protection To Kumar Sanu’s Personality Rights, Restrains Unauthorised Use of Voice and Image [Read Order]

Delhi HC grants interim protection to Kumar Sanu, restraining unauthorized AI use of his voice, image, and likeness to safeguard personality rights.

24 October, 2025 11:04 AM
orissa-hc-restores-fathers-visitation-rights-says-child-entitled-to-love-and-affection-of-both-parents
Trending Judiciary
Orissa HC Restores Father’s Visitation Rights, Says Child Entitled To Love And Affection Of Both Parents [Read Order]

Orissa High Court restores biological father’s visitation rights, holding that every child is entitled to love and affection of both parents.

24 October, 2025 11:50 AM
centre-writes-to-cji-to-nominate-justice-surya-kant-as-successor
Trending Legal Insiders
Centre writes to CJI to nominate Justice Surya Kant as successor

Centre writes to CJI B R Gavai recommending Justice Surya Kant as the next Chief Justice of India; he is set to assume office on November 24, 2025.

24 October, 2025 07:53 PM
sc-quashes-uapa-arrests-holds-remand-courts-explanation-cannot-replace-written-grounds-of-arrest
Trending Judiciary
SC Quashes UAPA Arrests, Holds Remand Court’s Explanation Cannot Replace Written Grounds Of Arrest [Read Order]

Supreme Court quashes UAPA arrests, ruling that remand court’s explanation cannot substitute the mandatory written grounds of arrest.

25 October, 2025 11:10 AM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email