Hyderabad City, Telangana: In a major breakthrough, the Cyber Crime Police of Hyderabad City have dismantled one of the largest movie piracy and illegal online betting networks operating under the brand names iBomma and Bappam. The operation led to the arrest of the mastermind behind the syndicate, responsible for running more than 65 mirror websites and causing massive losses to the Telugu Film Industry.
The accused also diverted lakhs of unsuspecting users to illegal betting platforms such as 1win and 1xbet, exposing them to serious financial exploitation and cyber risks. This crackdown follows extensive investigations into the piracy of newly released Telugu films including Kantara Chapter 1, Dude, Mirai, and others.
Complaint & Investigation
The investigation began after a complaint from the Anti-Video Piracy Cell of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC), reporting that several piracy websites were uploading newly released films in HD quality without authorization, severely affecting producers, distributors, and exhibitors.
The accused used multiple techniques to evade detection—frequent domain changes, foreign hosting, Cloudflare masking, and a sophisticated web infrastructure. Millions of users visited the websites each month, generating huge illegal revenue.
Police identified three prime suspects involved in running and supporting the piracy ecosystem. The main accused was arrested from his residence in Hyderabad after coordinated analysis of technical evidence, domain data, hosting records, financial transactions, and passport information.
How the Piracy Network Operated
Police revealed that the mastermind, a highly skilled web developer, built a vast technological ecosystem to support global-scale film piracy:
* Created iBomma in 2019 and Bappam in 2022
* Hosted servers in Amsterdam and Switzerland
* Registered over 110 domain extensions
* Maintained a library of more than 21,000 pirated movies
* Used Cloudflare to mask server details
* Maintained backups to relaunch websites instantly if blocked
* Embedded malware inside pirated movie files to steal user data
The accused also linked the piracy platform with illegal betting companies, automatically redirecting movie viewers to betting applications. This earned him huge commissions while exposing citizens to financial loss and cybercrimes.
Using criminal proceeds, he purchased properties, maintained large bank balances, and frequently travelled abroad to collaborate with betting operators. Police have frozen ₹3 crore in his bank accounts and further financial tracing is in progress.
Public Risk & Cyber Threats
Police warned that thousands of users visiting piracy websites unknowingly suffered:
* Exposure to illegal betting apps leading to financial loss
* Device infections from harmful APKs
* Theft of banking details, photos, OTPs, and personal data
* Data sold to cybercriminal groups, enabling digital arrest scams, identity theft, and investment fraud
While some sections of the public wrongly praised piracy platforms for “free entertainment,” the police strongly cautioned that these websites expose citizens to severe cyber threats and cause massive losses to the film industry.
Seizures Made
Police seized the following during the operation:
* Cash balance of ₹3 crore in bank accounts
* Mobile phones, laptops, CPUs
* Large number of hard disks and pen drives
* Numerous bank passbooks, cheque books, and debit/credit cards
* Critical digital evidence supporting the cybercrime network
Commendation of the Police Team
This operation was conducted under the leadership of:
* Sri M. Srinivasulu, IPS, Addl. Commissioner of Police (Crimes)
* Smt. Dara Kavitha, DCP, Cyber Crimes
* Sri R.G. Siva Maruti, ACP
* Sri Jayapal Reddy, ACP
The dedicated investigation team, including Inspectors, Sub-Inspectors, and technical staff of the Cyber Crime Unit, played a crucial role. Their tireless efforts successfully dismantled a highly sophisticated, international cybercrime infrastructure.
Public Advisory
* Watching pirated content is illegal and harms the film industry.
* Piracy websites expose users to malware, data theft, and financial fraud.
* Citizens are urged to use only legitimate OTT platforms.
* Report suspicious websites or cybercrimes to:
Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 [www.cybercrime.gov.in].
Our Citizen Reporter – Telangana
Mr. Bharath Reddy
