India Shuts Down 7,393 Piracy Links As New Law Hands Ministry Direct Takedown Powers The Indian government has taken down 7,393 URLs linked to online film piracy so far, including 4,996 Telegram channels and 1,263 websites, using powers granted under the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act 2023. India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has pulled down 7,393 URLs linked to online film piracy so far, a crackdown that includes 4,996 Telegram channels and 1,263 websites accused of hosting illegal copies of movies. A tougher law behind the crackdown The action rests on the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act 2023, which sharpened the government's tools against piracy. Under this law, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting can now send takedown notices directly to Telegram and other online platforms instead of relying solely on lengthy court proceedings, forcing quicker removal of pirated film content. Complaints trigger immediate action Whenever a copyright holder files a complaint, the ministry moves swiftly to either take down the infringing content or block access to it. To handle this, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has set up a dedicated mechanism specifically to receive piracy complaints related to films. Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan shared these details in a written reply to Lok Sabha. Thousands of crores lost every year Despite the rise of streaming platforms, piracy continues to inflict heavy losses on India's entertainment business, hitting films and OTT content the hardest. A 2025 report found that free and ad-supported streaming has significantly curbed music piracy, but video piracy remains widespread. As a result, the industry loses around ₹22,400 crore every year. Of this, ₹13,700 crore is lost to piracy of theatrical content, while ₹8,700 crore is lost due to people illegally accessing OTT content. Why video piracy refuses to die down According to industry experts, video piracy persists largely because filmmakers, TV producers and streaming platforms have not yet arrived at a pricing model that works across every income group. On top of that, films and shows being scattered across multiple platforms makes it harder for viewers to legally find and watch what they want, pushing many of them toward pirated sources instead. What this means for you If you access pirated movies through Telegram channels or piracy websites, this crackdown directly affects you. • For viewers: Thousands of the Telegram channels and websites that offered pirated films have already been shut down, making illegal access harder going forward. • For the film industry: The roughly ₹22,400 crore in annual losses could shrink, a saving that may eventually reflect in ticket and subscription pricing. • For copyright holders: Complaints now trigger direct ministry action, cutting out lengthy court processes. Questions & Answers 1. How many piracy links has the government taken down so far? 7,393 URLs have been taken down, including 4,996 Telegram channels and 1,263 websites. 2. Which law gives the government this power? The Cinematograph (Amendment) Act 2023 lets the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting send takedown notices directly to platforms like Telegram. 3. Who revealed this information and where? Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan disclosed these details in a written reply to Lok Sabha. 4. How much does piracy cost the entertainment industry every year? The industry loses around ₹22,400 crore annually, with ₹13,700 crore from theatrical content piracy and ₹8,700 crore from illegal OTT viewing. 5. Why does video piracy continue despite streaming platforms? Experts say the lack of a pricing model that works for every income group, plus content being scattered across multiple platforms, keeps driving people to piracy. 6. How can copyright holders file a piracy complaint? They can use the dedicated mechanism the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has set up specifically to receive film piracy complaints. https://trendkia.com/en/entertainment/aba-taka-7-393-payaresi-linka-bnda-telegram-chainalon-para-sarakara-ki-sidhi-najara-13995 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.