In a major breakthrough against digital piracy, Hyderabad Police have arrested Emmadi Ravi. The mastermind behind iBomma, India’s largest illegal movie streaming website. The arrest marks a significant victory in the fight against online piracy, which has long plagued the Indian film industry. Ravi, who launched iBomma in 2019 from his Hyderabad office, was taken into custody after an extensive multi-agency investigation that lasted several months. Police traced his digital footprint using phone signals, Cloudflare data, and SMS communications to pinpoint his location. During the raid, investigators found several laptops hidden in his bathroom that he used to manage the illegal network of websites.
According to Hyderabad Police, Ravi operated a sophisticated piracy empire that ran over 21,000 pirated movies across 65 mirror websites. The iBomma network reportedly had more than five million active users, many of whom unknowingly had their personal data stolen. Authorities revealed that the operation involved more than pirated movies it also sold users information to cybercriminals. Exposing them to serious risks like identity theft and online fraud.
Financially, Ravi operation was massive. Over five years, investigators believe he earned nearly ₹20 crore (approximately $2.4 million). Through illegal movie streaming, advertising, and affiliate scams. Police investigations also uncovered that he managed these earnings through more than 35 bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets to evade detection. Authorities have already frozen assets worth ₹3–3.5 crore, believed to be proceeds from his piracy business. Beyond piracy, police accuse Ravi of using iBomma online traffic to promote illegal betting websites.
Officials estimate that the Indian film industry suffered losses exceeding ₹24,000 crore due to his network widespread distribution of pirated content. Movies were often uploaded within hours of theatrical release, heavily impacting box-office revenues and legitimate OTT streaming platforms. Following his arrest, Ravi has been charged under multiple laws, including the Information Technology (IT) Act, the Copyright Act, and the Cinematography Act. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison.
Police officials described the operation as one of the most extensive anti-piracy crackdowns in recent years. The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Division coordinated with multiple agencies and tech firms to track Ravi digital operations. Aprocess made difficult by his use of encrypted communications, proxy servers, and layered website hosting through global mirror domains. The crackdown has received widespread praise from the Indian film community. Actors like Chiranjeevi and Nagarjuna publicly applauded the Hyderabad Police for their decisive action. They called it a long-overdue move to protect artists, producers, and technicians whose livelihoods piracy has affected.
Authorities also warned users against accessing or downloading content from illegal streaming platforms like iBomma. Emphasizing that piracy websites are not only illegal but dangerous, as they often embed malware and spyware to steal user data. Officials urged citizens to stick to legal streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar. Which ensure safe and authorized access to content. Beyond the headlines, this arrest highlights a larger issue the evolving sophistication of digital piracy in India. With internet access and streaming habits expanding rapidly, the need for stronger cybersecurity measures and digital literacy has become more critical than ever. The fall of iBomma kingpin sends a clear message, digital crime may run deep, but it cannot hide forever.
