iBomma Case: Police Seize Pirated Films, Rs 3 Crore

The Hyderabad police today revealed significant details about the extensive digital piracy network allegedly run by Ravi Immadi, the founder of the illegal movie website iBomma.

Ravi is accused of uploading nearly 21,000 films, including Hollywood's iconic 1972 classic The Godfather and the recent Tollywood film OG.

Speaking to the media, Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar said that Ravi not only operated this large-scale piracy network but was also involved in promoting online betting platforms, creating a complex criminal ecosystem.

"He established 65 mirror websites. Our teams retrieved almost 21,000 movies from his hard drive. Through his piracy activities, he reportedly earned around Rs 20 crore, and we have seized Rs 3 crore from his bank accounts so far," Sajjanar said.

Ravi's operations reportedly extended internationally and amassed a subscriber base of nearly 50 lakh users.

Investigators found that Ravi was meticulous in maintaining the piracy racket. He purchased 101 domain names and switched between them whenever one was taken down. He also leaked films that premiered on major streaming platforms, and circulated unauthorised recordings from theatres. This content was distributed to users through Telegram channels.

Later, Ravi redirected traffic from iBomma to online betting applications, distributing APK files that put subscribers at risk of cyber fraud.

"We have already dismantled the iBomma and Bappam websites, and are working to determine the proceeds each individual earned from this operation," Sajjanar said.

Given the scale of the fraud and the substantial flow of illicit funds, the Commissioner indicated that the case would be forwarded to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The Commissioner said that Ravi had previously dared the police to arrest him, and he was now in jail. Sajjanar issued a stern warning that those who created memes disparaging the police would also face serious consequences.

He also warned the public, saying, "While piracy is unlawful, it is often part of a larger scheme. Your personal information may end up on the dark web, where it could be exploited."

The police plan to seek Ravi's custody again to conduct a more detailed investigation into the network.