Raid on ’RST Digital’ Karkala

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, June 8, 2016: A press release reports that Karkala police conducted  raids on the control room of RST Digital (located at No.64/8, Simaz Complex, Taluk Office, Karkala) for allegedly indulging in illegal transmission/re-transmission of the Star Pay channels.

Star India conducted tactful investigations at Karkala town and identified that RST digital, which has a subscriber base of over 2,500 households, was involved in piracy through DTH. The operator was carrying illegal signals of Star India channels Star Plus, Star Sports 1, Life Ok, Suvarna and Asianet, along with Sony, Zee and Colors channels.

Karkala ASP Suman told reporters that the accused is not arrested as it is not a heinous crime. The investigation is being carried out. The complainant Star India is authorised to seize the hardware. The complainant had accompanied the police during the raid. She added that the seized materials would be sent to SFL, Hyderabad, the police official added.

FIR filed  : RST Digital has monopoly in Karkala region. After the initial investigation, Star India officials filed a First Information Report (FIR Number 135/2016 dated May 25) against RST Digital at Karkala police station under section 379 of IPC r/w Sections 37,51,63,65,69 of the Copyright Act, which resulted in a raid at the premises of the operator.

During the raid, the operator resisted police entry into the control room and arguments were exchanged. Piracy equipment, including DTH Set Top Boxes (of Sun Direct), umbrellas, amplifier, modulator, Star boxes etc were seized. While the implementation of Digitally Addressable Systems (DAS) in the country is helpful as a corrective and preventive step, the implementation of DAS all over the country is yet to be done. Since the last few years, Star India has adopted a policy of "zero tolerance" against operators indulging in illegal transmission/re-transmission of the Star Pay Channels. The anti-piracy campaign has resulted in approximately 100+ FIRs against the party.