Hyderabad police have cracked a massive movie piracy operation that earned its mastermind Rs 20 crore. The cybercrime unit revealed shocking details about how one man built an illegal empire that reached millions of users.
Immadi Ravi, a 39-year-old tech expert from Visakhapatnam, created the notorious iBOMMA website in 2019. Police say he used his web development skills to launch what became the biggest piracy network in the Telugu film industry.
The operation exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic. When theaters closed and people stayed home, Ravi’s platform offered the latest movies in high definition for free. This attracted nearly 5 million visitors every month.
Additional Commissioner Srinivas told reporters that Ravi hosted his illegal website through a company called Njal. He personally uploaded stolen movies and created special computer programs that redirected users to gambling sites like 1win and 1xbet.
Police discovered that Ravi controlled a network of over 110 different web domains. His database contained details of 50 lakh subscribers who used his services. Many of these users were unknowingly sent to betting websites, leading to financial fraud and personal data theft.
The cybercrime team arrested Ravi on November 18. During raids, officers seized computer hard drives containing 21,000 pirated films in multiple languages. They also found Rs 3 crore in cash at his locations.
Investigators say the iBOMMA/Bappam network operated like a sophisticated business. Ravi used his technical background to create systems that automatically managed content and pushed users toward illegal gambling platforms.
The suspect spent five days in police custody before being presented in court. His arrest has exposed how digital piracy operations can generate massive profits while causing widespread damage to the entertainment industry.
This case highlights the growing threat of online piracy in India’s regional film markets. The Telugu states have been particularly affected by such illegal operations that steal newly released movies and distribute them for free.
