Indus Media and Communication Ltd which manages the cable TV service (InDigital) in Bangalore is knowingly or unknowingly committing a Cyber Crime and admitting the same in its broadcasts. As we can see in the above photograph, (dated 19th march 2015), there is a pop up on the TV saying “This STB has reached its end of life”. This notice is normally followed by an advertisement that new STB would be provided at a cost of Rs 500/- .
Obviously the threatening message is an attempt to sell its new STB s for whatever advantage it perceives. There is therefore both a “Threat” and also an attempt to derive a “Commercial Benefit”. It is therefore an attempted “Extortion” under IPC.
Indus Media has taken over many of the local operators and many of these consumers are using the STBs which they possessed before the change over. Now Indus Media appears to be interested in phasing out these STBs and replace it with new STBs.
If the offer was a free upgradation, one can appreciate that there could be some technical convenience to the company (Which could be nothing but they would have better control to switch off the consumer’s connection at their discretion). But when the company wants the consumers to pay for the upgrade, the notice is to be seen as an unfair attempt at enrichment.
What the Company however is not realizing is that they are making a statement that the “Set Box is reaching the end of its life”.
Consumers cannot understand how when technically the STB is still working, Indus Media knows that it is about to die?.. unless it is being killed?….
If the STB is being killed, then it amounts to “Denial of Service” and also “Hacking into the STB” to disable it. Both are offences under Section 66 of ITA 2008. These are cognizable offences and the Police can launch an investigation immediately.
I have sought explanation about the pop up from the customer care department which however has not yet answered.
Since the company has itself admitted their intention to kill the STB, there is no need for further evidence in this regard and the Police can act immediately and take action to arrest the officials of Indus Media in Bangalore and file a suitable case against them.
I request the Cyber Crime police in Bangalore to take up this case as an “Attempt to Murder” an “Electronic Device” and take appropriate action.
Naavi
