Tamil Nadu Police have invoked the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act, 1982 — commonly known as the Goondas Act — against three individuals arrested in connection with the online piracy leak of ‘Jana Nayagan’, the highly anticipated film starring TVK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.
The three accused, identified as Prashanth, Selvam, and Balakrishnan, were detained under the preventive detention law by the Tamil Nadu Cyber Crime Wing as part of the ongoing investigation into the high-profile piracy case, police sources said. Directed by H. Vinoth and produced by KVN Productions,‘Jana Nayagan’ has generated immense public attention, particularly as it is widely expected to be Vijay’s final film before fully transitioning into active politics.
The controversy erupted after a high-definition version of the film allegedly surfaced online ahead of its theatrical release, triggering widespread outrage within the Tamil film industry. Producers, industry associations, and several leading film personalities condemned the leak, describing it as a severe setback for the cinema industry.
Veteran actor Rajinikanth was among those who publicly demanded strict action against those responsible for the piracy.
Following the leak, KVN Productions lodged a formal complaint with the Chennai Cyber Crime Police, prompting authorities to launch an extensive investigation into the incident.
Police have so far arrested nine individuals in connection with the case. Investigators suspect the accused were part of an organised network engaged in illegally accessing and distributing copyrighted film content online.
Officials said one of the detained accused had reportedly worked as a freelance assistant editor on another film project, raising suspicions of possible insider involvement and technical access to the leaked content.
Cases have been registered under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Information Technology Act, the Copyright Act, and the Cinematograph Act.
Police sources said the Goondas Act was invoked against the three accused, considering the scale of the alleged piracy operation and its broader impact on the Tamil film industry.
The Goondas Act is a preventive detention law used in Tamil Nadu against habitual offenders and activities considered prejudicial to public order. The legislation allows authorities to detain individuals without immediate trial for a specified period.
Investigators are continuing efforts to identify additional individuals linked to the alleged piracy network and trace the original source of the leaked film print.
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