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Hyderabad’Nov 18 (PMI) In a major breakthrough, Hyderabad Police on Monday uncovered the vast scale of the digital piracy empire operated by Ravi, the alleged mastermind behind the illegal streaming site iBomma. According to Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar, Ravi uploaded nearly 21,000 pirated films—from Hollywood classics like The Godfather to recent Tollywood releases such as OG—and earned around ₹20 crore through the operation. Authorities have so far seized ₹3 crore from his accounts.
Sajjanar revealed that Ravi simultaneously promoted online betting platforms, creating what he described as a “dual criminal ecosystem.” The racket, he said, has significant international links and a subscriber base of nearly 50 lakh users. Given the multilayered financial fraud involved, the case will now be escalated to the CBI and Enforcement Directorate.
Investigators found that Ravi relied heavily on relentless domain hopping, purchasing 101 domains and running 65 mirror sites to keep iBomma active despite repeated blocks. The piracy network leaked content from OTT platforms as well as covertly recorded prints from theatres, distributing films through Telegram channels.
In a later phase, Ravi diverted iBomma’s traffic toward online betting apps, sharing APK files that exposed users to potential cyber fraud. Police have already taken down the iBomma and Bappam websites and are now tracking the financial gains of everyone involved in the network.
Sajjanar noted that Ravi had previously “challenged the police to catch him,” but is now in custody. Investigators plan to seek further custody for deeper probing into the international links and money trail. The Commissioner also warned that meme creators posting derogatory content targeting the police would face strict action.(pressmediaofindia.com)
