Film Piracy Kingpin Faces New Forgery Charges as Enforcement Directorate Joins Investigation

The Enforcement Directorate is investigating the financial aspects of the piracy case.

Hyderabad:

Immadi Ravi, alleged mastermind behind the extensive iBomma film piracy network who was recently arrested, now faces additional legal challenges as the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have incorporated forgery-related sections to his case. With these new charges, the total number of sections against the accused exceeds 13 under various acts. Additionally, the Enforcement Directorate has commenced an investigation into the matter.

Law enforcement officials have filed a memo in court to add three new sections related to forgery and identity fraud. Investigators discovered that Ravi allegedly acquired essential documents, including a PAN card, motorcycle license, and vehicle Registration Certificate (RC), by fraudulently utilizing the identity information of someone named Prahlad.

These forgery accusations complement the ten sections previously registered against Ravi under the Information Technology (IT) Act, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections, Cinematography Act, and Foreigners Act.

Police officials indicated that if found guilty, Ravi could receive a prison sentence ranging from three to seven years.

Case Overview

Ravi was apprehended in connection with widespread digital movie piracy. Earlier this year, the Anti-Video Piracy Cell of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC) submitted complaints after prominent new releases, including films like Kuberaa, Single, and HIT: The Third Case, were illegally uploaded to iBomma and its related mirror sites on or near their official release dates.

The TFCC estimates that online piracy has caused the Telugu film industry losses of approximately Rs 3,700 crore in 2024 alone.

Ravi's network, allegedly operating more than 70 mirror sites, utilized sophisticated international infrastructure to avoid detection. These piracy websites primarily targeted Telugu films but also illegally distributed content in Hindi, English, and other regional languages.

Financial and Technical Infrastructure Under Investigation

As Ravi remains in police custody, the interrogation is focusing on the complex financial and technical foundation of the piracy operation.

Over the coming days, authorities will intensively question Ravi to obtain crucial information about his cryptocurrency wallets and transactions, allegedly used to launder illegal profits.

On Wednesday, a local court granted five days of police custody for Ravi.

As a citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Ravi frequently traveled to countries including the Netherlands, Switzerland, the USA, and France to collaborate with betting app operators.

According to reports, investigators uncovered monthly cryptocurrency transfers of approximately Rs 15 lakh to Ravi's NRI accounts.

The investigation also aims to completely identify his foreign partners and associates who were crucial in maintaining the global infrastructure of iBomma and its mirror sites.

Enforcement Directorate Investigates Money Laundering

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has joined the investigation and is examining the financial aspects of the case.

Following the discovery of approximately Rs 20 crore in illegal earnings, the freezing of over Rs 3.5 crore in bank accounts, and the complex international money trail, the ED is preparing to file an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR).

The ED's involvement will primarily focus on Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) aspects, working in coordination with Hyderabad police to trace the full extent of the sophisticated financial networks.

Authorities believe these new leads will further expose the large-scale network supporting illegal streaming and distribution activities, which posed a significant threat to the film industry and user digital security through connections to online betting and data theft.