Mon Nov 17 13:52:22 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a news article rewrite:

Summary:

Hyderabad police have arrested Ravi Emandi, the alleged mastermind behind the iBomma and Bappam piracy networks, which have caused significant financial losses to the Telugu film industry. Emandi, a citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis, operated over 65 mirror websites offering free, high-quality pirated movies. He also diverted users to illegal betting sites, fueling financial fraud and data theft. The investigation revealed a sophisticated operation involving servers in multiple countries, domain masking, and the use of malware to steal user data. He is also accused of selling stolen data to cybercriminals for various fraudulent activities. Police seized extensive backups of films and uncovered connections to other FIRs related to movie piracy, online cheating, and data theft.

News Article:

Hyderabad Police Bust Major Film Piracy Ring, Arrest Mastermind Behind iBomma

Hyderabad, India – November 17, 2025 – In a major blow to film piracy, Hyderabad police have arrested Ravi Emandi, the alleged mastermind behind the iBomma and Bappam piracy networks. The operation, responsible for an estimated loss of thousands of crores to the Telugu film industry, was brought to a halt following a lengthy investigation by the Cyber Crime Unit.

Hyderabad City Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar, along with Film Development Corporation (FDC) chairman Dil Raju, and prominent actors Chiranjeevi and Nagarjuna, addressed the media today, showcasing seized materials from the case.

Emandi, a 39-year-old native of Visakhapatnam now a citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis, was apprehended in Kukatpally. Police had previously arrested two of his alleged associates in September.

According to a complaint filed by the Anti-Video Piracy Cell of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce, the iBomma network operated over 65 mirror websites, offering newly released Telugu films in high definition for free. The platform attracted millions of users, causing significant financial damage to producers and exhibitors.

“He identified a market for free, high-quality streaming and launched iBomma in 2019. During the COVID-19 lockdown, the website became one of the most visited piracy portals, offering new releases within days and drawing nearly 5 million users per month,” said an officer associated with the case.

The investigation revealed a sophisticated operation, with Emandi utilizing servers in Amsterdam and Switzerland, masking technical details through Cloudflare services, and registering over 110 domains. He allegedly circumvented DRM protections to download films from OTT platforms and acquired pirated versions through underground Telegram groups. Police seized hard drives containing approximately 21,000 films across multiple languages.

Authorities also discovered that Emandi allegedly embedded malware in pirated movie files to collect user data, which was subsequently sold to cybercriminals. This stolen data was used in various fraudulent activities, including digital arrest scams, identity theft, investment fraud, and unauthorized online trading.

“Stolen data, including banking credentials and private photographs, was sold to cybercriminals and used in frauds such as digital arrest scams, identity theft, investment fraud and unauthorised online trading,” added Mr. Sajjanar

Emandi is implicated in four other FIRs related to movie piracy, online cheating, and data theft. The investigation involved extensive coordination with domain service providers, ISPs, and passport authorities, tracing server movements and financial flows across several countries, including The Netherlands, Switzerland, the USA, Thailand, France, and Dubai.

The arrest of Emandi marks a significant victory in the ongoing battle against film piracy and highlights the increasing sophistication of cybercrime operations. Authorities warn users of the dangers associated with accessing pirated content, including the risk of malware infection and data theft.

Read More