The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police are preparing to produce iBomma piracy mastermind Immadi Ravi in court for three additional cyber fraud cases tied to broader online scam networks targeting city residents. The cases are being pursued through Prisoner Transfer (PT) warrants, issued after investigators uncovered Ravi’s extensive links to illegal betting platforms operating through piracy websites.
Ravi was arrested on 15 November from an apartment in Kukatpally, where police seized hard drives containing 21,000 pirated films, personal data of 50 lakh users, and Rs3 crore in cash. Officials estimate he earned over Rs20 crore from piracy and associated scams.
Investigators revealed that iBomma, which drew nearly 5 million visitors monthly, redirected users to betting apps like 1win and 1xbet through pop-up ads and APK downloads. These links exposed users to financial frauds such as OTP scams, data theft, and even digital arrest cons.
PT warrants seek to connect Ravi to three such cyber fraud cases, with police securing a three-day custody extension on 27 November to question him about the betting links and the role of his associate Nikhil. Ravi has reportedly admitted to promoting these betting apps, compromising user privacy and financial security.
Authorities are now working to seize properties purchased using illicit earnings and to trace international collaborators. The Telugu film industry suffered an estimated Rs3,700 crore loss to piracy in 2024 alone.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar warned the public that visiting piracy websites exposes users to severe data theft and cyber fraud risks.
