Delhi HC Directs WhatsApp and Telegram to Halt Piracy of Movie ‘Jawan’

The Delhi High Court has directed WhatsApp and Telegram to deactivate all groups and channels involved in the distribution and sale of pirated copies of Shahrukh Khan’s movie “Jawan.”

A single bench of Justice C Hari Shankar passed the order in response to a petition filed by film producer Red Chillies Entertainment, which sought action against piracy.

The court not only ordered the deactivation of the groups and channels but also directed WhatsApp, Telegram, and mobile network operators to reveal subscriber information for the mobile numbers associated with these groups and channels. This information will facilitate legal action against the perpetrators.

Red Chillies Entertainment filed the petition after identifying an individual named Rohit Sharma who was selling pirated copies of the movie through WhatsApp.

In addition to deactivating Rohit Sharma’s WhatsApp number, the court also instructed Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) to deactivate his Facebook and Instagram pages.

The court emphasized that similar actions should be taken against administrators of other WhatsApp groups and Telegram channels once their identities are established.

Senior advocate Raj Shekar Rao represented Red Chillies Entertainment in this matter. The plea also mentioned that a police complaint was filed against Rohit Sharma and others in Mumbai on September 13, 2023.

The piracy activities were identified by agents working on behalf of the movie’s producer, “Jawan.”