NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has cautioned and warned Den Network to desist from activities like piracy and transmitting any channels of Star available to it on a la carte basis on any of its channels available in any bouquets.

As per Star, it telecast the Salman Khan starrer film Bajrangi Bhaijaan on one of its channels, Star Gold which is available to Den’s network only on a la carte basis. In order to circumvent the a la carte restriction, Den unauthorisedly transmitted the movie on one of its local channels called Den Cinema, which was available to its entire subscriber base.

TDSAT chairman Justice Aftab Alam and members Kuldip Singh and B B Srivastava said, “Prima facie it appears to us that Den is indulging in practices that are not only not sanctioned by law but which in fact may constitute criminal offence.”

It further clarified that in case Den is “violated the warning it would do so at its risk as to costs and consequences. It is further made clear that Star, if so advised, may file claim for damages against Den for allegedly having indulged in piracy of its signals.” 

The Tribunal noted that in the petition filed by Den, Star had even earlier alleged similar piracy and that matter had been posted for 3 November as Den counsel Abhay Chattopadhyay sought time to get instructions. 

The Tribunal hoped that by the next date, Chattopadhyay may file Den’s reply to the two applications. 

In the present application, Star counsel Kunal Tandon alleged that Den was “indulging in rampant piracy of some of the Star channels.” Both the earlier application and the present application are supported by screen shots and CDs.