Immadhi Ravi ran iBomma piracy network alone: Hyderabad police
HYDERABAD: Key details have emerged on iBomma operator Immadhi Ravi, who allegedly challenged the film industry and the police with extensive piracy operations. Hyderabad cybercrime officers said he worked entirely on his own, contrary to earlier assumptions of a wider network.
Nampally court sent him to 14 days’ judicial remand, following which he was shifted to Chanchalguda jail. Police plan to seek his custody for further inquiry. Officers have already blocked 65 piracy websites, including iBomma.
Police surprised by solo operation
Investigators said many believed Ravi employed agents across India to record films in theatres and hacked servers of digital media companies and over-the-top platforms to secure high-quality prints. They also suspected he managed 65 websites such as iBomma, Bappam and Irade.
But his interrogation revealed a very different picture. Ravi, a native of Visakhapatnam, completed an MBA from Mumbai University and later worked briefly while running a software firm named ER Infotech. He then switched fully to film piracy, keeping his identity concealed.
Recorded films from other piracy sites
Despite causing heavy losses to the film industry for years, Ravi never filmed a single movie himself, police said. Instead, he regularly monitored websites such as MovieRulz and TamilWap, used software tools to record the films uploaded there, and then reposted those copies on his own sites.
He also recorded films released on over the top platforms using the same method. Police said viewers preferred his websites because they displayed only one advertisement at the start, unlike other piracy sites that run disruptive ads throughout.
Proxy servers hid his location
Most of his revenue reportedly came from advertisements linked to gaming and betting apps. As iBomma gained popularity, film and police departments tried to trace the operator, but Ravi used proxy servers and hosted domains in locations such as Caribbean islands and the Netherlands.
Even while living in Hyderabad, he remained untraceable. When the hunt intensified, he fled abroad and stayed in France. Recently, a payment from a betting app to the iBomma operator gave police an IP address that pointed to a flat No. 1903, N-Block, Rainbow Vista Apartments in Moosapet.
Cybercrime officers kept surveillance and arrested Ravi two days ago when he returned from abroad.
Massive social-media following
Though police say Ravi committed a crime, he has gained a large following on social media. Since news of his arrest spread, several support groups have appeared. Users on various platforms are posting in his favour.
Groups titled “iBomma Support Forum”, “Ameerpet Youth” and “Ravi Fan Club” are circulating messages after his arrest. Many users argue that high ticket prices after government orders keep cinema out of reach for low-income audiences and claim Ravi made new films accessible to them. Comments include: “If the government raises prices during releases, how is Ravi wrong for giving free access?” and “What happens now to Ameerpet’s middle-class students?”
