Govt may impose Rs 3 Lakh fine, 3 years jail term for accessing Torrent websites in India

In the last five odd years, Indian government has banned thousands of websites and URLs leaving people disappointed, but there were no fines for visiting those sites. However, now if you visit a torrent website you may end up in jail for three years along with a fine of Rs 3 lakh. 

The reports suggest that it would be considered an offense even if someone looks at a ‘torrent file, or downloads a file from a host that may have been banned in India, or even views an image on a file host like Imagebam.’

Merely accessing any information under a blocked URL will land you in jail and cost you Rs 3 lakh. 

The following warning will pop up on the computer screen if you visit such blocked URL:
“This URL has been blocked under the instructions of the Competent Government Authority or in compliance with the orders of a Court of competent jurisdiction. Viewing, downloading, exhibiting or duplicating an illicit copy of the contents under this URL is punishable as an offence under the laws of India, including but not limited to under Sections 63, 63-A, 65 and 65-A of the Copyright Act, 1957 which prescribe imprisonment for 3 years and also fine of upto Rs 3,00,000/-. Any person aggrieved by any such blocking of this URL may contact at urlblock@tatacommunications.com who will, within two days, provide you the details of relevant proceedings under which you can approach the relevant High Court or Authority for redressal of your grievance"

Earlier, simple message used to pop up on the blocked URLs that would read that ‘the URL has been blocked at the direction of DoT’. It would not provide any explanation per se. But, now it comes with an explanation, which is a welcoming change.