Police have arrested a man for creating and distributing a fake online link to leak the Vicky Kaushal film, "Chhawa." The accused, apprehended in Nashik, illegally uploaded the film to a streaming site. Read the full story.
Entertainment Desk: Online piracy and the creation of fake streaming links for films are increasingly prevalent in the film industry. In the latest incident, police have arrested an individual for creating and leaking a fraudulent link to Vicky Kaushal's popular film, "Chhawa." While police have previously apprehended several individuals in similar cases, Vivek Snehal Dhumal has now been arrested in Nashik.
Fake Link to "Chhawa" Discovered
"Chhawa," a historical film based on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, was released in theaters on February 14, 2025. Following its release, the creation and distribution of fake links came to light. After a complaint was filed, the South Cyber Cell launched an investigation, uncovering that an individual had uploaded a fraudulent link to "Chhawa" on a film streaming site. The accused registered this link using the moviesprime.xyz domain and streamed it online.
Accused Traced to Nashik
The investigation revealed that the accused, Vivek Snehal Dhumal, a resident of Nashik, was using the fake link to leak the film online. He purchased the domain from Hostinger and streamed other new films besides "Chhawa." The Cyber Cell team tracked and arrested him in Nashik on April 11th, bringing him to Mumbai.
"Chhawa"'s Box Office Success and OTT Streaming
The film "Chhawa" was a massive box office success, grossing ₹600.03 crore. It became the seventh highest-grossing Indian film. As of April 11th, "Chhawa" is also streaming on the OTT platform Netflix, allowing viewers to enjoy the film from the comfort of their homes.
This incident once again highlights the urgent need for stricter surveillance and legal action to protect the film industry from online piracy.
