Alleged iBomma operator Immadhi Ravi arrested; ₹3 crore in accounts frozen
Hyderabad: Cyber Crime police in Hyderabad have arrested Immadhi Ravi, identified as a key figure behind the iBomma piracy network, in what authorities describe as a significant breakthrough against digital and film piracy.
Ravi, who had earlier made public statements challenging law enforcement and the Telugu film industry to stop him, was detained from his residence in Kukatpally after flying in from France. He was taken to the Central Crime Station (CCS) at Basheerbagh and later produced before a magistrate, who remanded him to judicial custody.
Allegations of overseas control of the piracy network
Investigators say Ravi had been operating the iBomma platform from abroad, reportedly coordinating operations from Caribbean locations. Police believe he supervised the uploading and distribution of pirated Telugu movies and OTT content through various domains associated with iBomma.
Preliminary inquiries indicate he may have obtained citizenship in a Caribbean country to further shield his activities, though officials say this aspect is still under verification.
Authorities suspect he worked with an overseas technical team to ensure that new releases—often high-quality prints—were regularly uploaded, causing sustained financial damage to the film industry.
In the aftermath of his arrest, multiple iBomma mirror sites have gone offline, and the police are combing through his financial and digital records.
Bank accounts worth ₹3 crore frozen
Following the operation, police froze bank accounts linked to Ravi that together hold close to ₹3 crore. Investigators believe this money represents proceeds of large-scale piracy.
Complaints from film industry triggered probe
The crackdown traces back to complaints filed by the Telugu Film Anti-Piracy Team and several producers, who flagged the rapid circulation of newly released films on iBomma.
These complaints led to sustained surveillance on the network and close tracking of Ravi’s international movements, eventually resulting in his arrest when he landed in Hyderabad.
Wider network under the scanner
Police say the investigation is far from over. Efforts are underway to identify other individuals who may have helped source films, manage servers, or handle finances for the piracy operation. Digital forensic analysis and financial-trail tracking are expected to reveal more names, and further arrests are anticipated.
Estimated losses and cross-links with betting sites
Officials estimate that piracy of Telugu content has caused losses of roughly ₹3,700 crore to the film sector over the years. Major titles—such as Mirai, Kishkindapuri, OG, Kantara, Kannappa and others—were allegedly circulated on the iBomma network, along with Hindi and English films.
Previous investigations also indicated that some piracy portals, including iBomma, had links with online betting operations. To avoid shutdowns, the network frequently switched domain names and relied on multiple mirror sites.
Use of Cloudflare hosting for anonymity
The Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce had earlier pointed out that iBomma and several of its related domains were hosted via Cloudflare, a content delivery and security service that can obscure the origin servers. According to the film body, a large share of global piracy websites use similar hosting arrangements, complicating enforcement and takedown efforts.
Earlier action on mirror and partner sites
In September, Hyderabad Cybercrime police had registered cases against around 65 mirror websites, including iBomma and Bappam, for illegally uploading Telugu films. That action followed a complaint by the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce, which warned that unchecked piracy was causing severe economic damage to the industry.
During a separate meeting with prominent actors, producers, exhibitors, digital distributors, and officials from the Telangana Film Development Corporation, police detailed the broader piracy ecosystem. They explained that camcorder recording inside theatres and illicit access to digital distribution systems were the main sources for pirated copies, which were then shared globally through portals such as TamilMV, Tamil Blasters, Movierulz, and others.Read more
