Mumbai's South Cyber Police arrested Sagar Manik Randhavan (26) on Thursday, April 10, for illegally streaming the Bollywood film Chhaava via a paid app. The arrest was made following a complaint by Rajat Rahul Haksar, CEO of August Entertainment, an anti-piracy agency appointed by Maddock Films, the movie's producers. Randhavan was taken into custody today and has been remanded to police custody until April 13.
The investigation revealed that between February 14 and March 20, Randhavan circulated 1,818 pirated links of Chhaava, causing significant financial losses to the production house. The film, which stars Vicky Kaushal in the lead role and is based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, has been a box-office hit, grossing over Rs 500 crore since its release on February 14. However, its theatrical earnings were heavily impacted by widespread piracy.
The case has been registered under multiple legal provisions, including Sections 316(2) and 308(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Sections 51, 63, and 65A of the Copyright Act, Section 6AA of the Cinematograph Act (1952 Amendment), and Sections 43 and 66 of the Information Technology Act. Authorities are continuing their investigation to trace additional pirated links and identify other individuals involved in the illegal distribution network.
Chhaava, directed by Laxman Utekar and featuring Rashmika Mandanna and Akshaye Khanna in key roles, has been widely praised for its portrayal of Maratha history and Sambhaji Maharaj's legacy. Despite its success at the box office, piracy has posed serious threats to its distribution and revenue.