High Court
High Court adjourns Shah bail plea hearing
The Bombay High Court on Monday adjourned Bollywood financier and co-promoter of B4U Bharat Shah’s bail plea till Tuesday as the defence arguments remained incomplete. However, the court gave permission for the release of his film “Chori Chori Chupke Chupke” on the condition that the rights of the film would remain with the government, Chalo Mumbai reported.
Shah had filed his bail plea in the High Court after his bail was rejected in the special court. The case was brought before Justice SS Parkar and Advocate Ashok Desai appeared on Shah’s behalf. Shah was arrested on 8 January under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for his alleged links with underworld don Chhota Shakeel.
Meanwhile, “Chori Chori” producer Nasim Rizvi and Shah have both made counter claims on the seized negatives of the movie while the prosecution has urged the the appointment of a court receiver to release the film and deposit the proceeds in the treasury, according to Press Trust of India.
Public prosecutor Rohini Salian, speaking on the plea made by Shah for the release of the film’s negatives, informed a special court that the film producer and accused Rizvi had claimed during interrogation his right over the release of the controversial movie.
Both Shah and Rizvi are being tried under MCOCA for their alleged nexus with the underworld. In the circumstances, it would not be proper to release the film’s negatives to either of them, Salian said.
The prosecutor has suggested that in the interest of justice, the court may give its ruling on the rights of the film after the conclusion of the trial so that no prejudice is caused to any of the accused. Till then, she said the film’s negatives should not be released to anyone.
Shah’s counsel urged for time till January 17 to file his submissions on the prosecution’s prayer for appointment of court receiver. Accordingly, designated judge AP Bhangale has adjourned the matter until then.
High Court
Delhi HC blocks illegal IPL 2026 streams, backs JioStar rights
Court orders swift takedowns, expands crackdown on piracy apps
NEW DELHI: In a timely move ahead of the cricketing season, the Delhi High Court has granted interim relief to JioStar India Private Limited, clamping down on illegal streaming of the TATA Indian Premier League 2026.
The court passed ex parte ad interim injunctions in two separate suits, restraining rogue websites and mobile applications from broadcasting IPL matches without authorisation. The tournament is set to begin on 28 March, making the timing of the order particularly significant.
Recognising JioStar’s exclusive digital and broadcast rights for the IPL cycle from 2023 to 2027, the court observed that unauthorised streaming would infringe its statutory and proprietary rights, potentially causing irreparable losses.
In one case, the court directed several identified websites to immediately stop hosting or streaming IPL content. It also issued a dynamic injunction, allowing JioStar to flag new infringing platforms in real time, which must then be blocked swiftly by domain registrars and internet service providers.
In a parallel order, the court turned its attention to piracy through mobile apps, particularly Android-based platforms distributing content via APK files. A broader dynamic+ injunction was granted, extending to future variants, mirror links and related interfaces, signalling a tougher stance on evolving piracy tactics.
The court also directed domain name registrars to suspend offending domains and share registrant details, including KYC and payment information. Internet service providers and telecom operators have been instructed to block access within strict timelines, in some instances within 36 hours. Both the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology have been asked to facilitate enforcement through necessary notifications.
Noting the fast-changing nature of digital piracy, the court emphasised the need for real-time enforcement tools to keep pace with anonymous and constantly shifting networks. It also underlined the commercial impact of piracy on legitimate rights holders.
The ruling reinforces the judiciary’s firm stance on protecting intellectual property in the digital age. For viewers, it is a reminder to stick to official platforms as the IPL season kicks off under tighter watch.
