Jan Nayakan leak case: Absconding mastermind arrested in Chennai
Tamil Nadu Cyber Crime Wing has arrested the alleged mastermind in the Jan Nayagan footage leak case. The latest arrests bring the number to 19 as the investigation and piracy warnings continue.
The investigation into the Jana Nayagan leak has taken a major step forward, with the Tamil Nadu Cyber Crime Wing arresting the alleged mastermind behind the illegal dissemination of footage from the film. Officials said the accused was absconding for several weeks and was finally caught after sustained surveillance and intelligence-based operations.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, the state cyber crime branch said the case was registered on April 11 after representatives of the film’s production house complained about unauthorized access, copying and dissemination of confidential footage from the unreleased film.
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According to the police, the leak caused huge financial and commercial losses to the producers.
Investigators said they conducted extensive technical analysis, digital forensic investigation and intelligence-based interrogation as part of the investigation. Based on the evidence collected, 17 people had already been arrested at various stages of the investigation.
On June 10, under the supervision of Superintendent of Police M. Meenakshi, Cyber Crime Wing Headquarters, officials ensured the arrest of the alleged mastermind, who was evading law enforcement agencies for quite some time.
Police have also arrested another accused, believed to be part of the piracy network. With the latest action, the total number of arrests in the case has reached 19.
“The accused was absconding for a long time and was actively evading the law enforcement agencies. Through continuous technical surveillance, intelligence gathering and coordinated field operations, the state cyber crime wing successfully secured the long absconding mastermind along with another accused involved in the piracy network,” the release said.
The leak issue first came to light in April after footage of Jana Naygan surfaced online, sparking concerns within the film industry over piracy and unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material.
Earlier in the investigation, several persons were arrested, including a freelance editor, who was allegedly involved in illegally accessing the footage and circulating it online.
The controversy also led to disciplinary action within the industry. Film editor Pradeep E. Raghav was suspended by the editors’ association for working with a freelance editor who was not registered with the organization. However, the association clarified that Raghav was not directly involved in the leak.
Produced by KVN Productions, Jana Nayakan stars Vijay, Mamita Baiju, Pooja Hegde, Prakash Raj, Bobby Deol and Gautham Vasudev Menon. The political action drama was widely promoted as Vijay’s final film before his full-time entry into politics.
The film’s release has also faced delays due to the certification process. Jana Naygan is awaiting clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification after objections were reportedly raised on some scenes. While the producers had initially approached the court seeking certification before the planned release of the film, the matter was later referred to the vetting committee.
No fresh updates have been released on the film’s certification or release date.
Meanwhile, the cyber crime wing has reiterated its warning against digital piracy, cautioning the public against downloading, streaming or sharing pirated content and saying that those involved may face strict legal consequences.
Further investigation is ongoing in the matter.