Cyber Police Crack Down on Film Piracy in Assam
In a significant development for the Assamese film industry, authorities in Guwahati have made an arrest in connection with the piracy of the recently released movie 'Roi Roi Binale,' directed by renowned musician and filmmaker Zubeen Garg. The arrest comes as a relief to filmmakers battling increasing incidents of copyright infringement.
The Arrest and Charges
Rofiqul Islam, a resident of Lakhimpur in Goalpara district, was taken into custody by cyber crime officials after a formal complaint was filed by the film's director and producer. The arrest occurred just four days after the complaint was registered, demonstrating the urgency with which authorities are treating film piracy cases.
According to police reports, Islam allegedly recorded the entire film using a recording device while watching it in a cinema hall. He then uploaded the pirated copy to his YouTube channel, 'Rofiqul R Vlogs,' making it freely available to the public and causing significant financial losses to the filmmakers.
The legal action against Islam includes multiple serious charges:
- Criminal conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023
- Promoting enmity between different groups on religious grounds
- Theft and cheating charges
- Sections 6AA, 6AB, and 7 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952
- Relevant sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000
Legal Consequences and Industry Impact
The court has sent Islam to police custody for three days, beginning Thursday, while investigations continue. The case highlights the strengthened legal framework against film piracy in India, particularly through recent amendments to the Cinematograph Act.
Section 6AA of the Cinematograph Act, added in the 2023 amendment, specifically targets unauthorized recording in cinema halls. This provision carries severe penalties including imprisonment and substantial fines. Similarly, Section 6AB addresses the unauthorized exhibition of pirated content, with punishments ranging from three months to three years imprisonment and fines up to 5% of the film's audited gross production cost.
Film director Rajesh Bhuyan expressed the production team's frustration, revealing that they discovered hundreds of YouTube channels and numerous fake Facebook profiles sharing the pirated copy of their film. "We lodged the complaint after finding no other way to stop the widespread piracy," Bhuyan told media representatives.
This case represents a significant victory for content creators in Assam and sets an important precedent for dealing with digital piracy. The swift action by Guwahati cyber police sends a strong message to potential copyright violators that such activities will not be tolerated.
