Digital piracy has caused huge losses for Telugu film producers and distributors in recent years. After repeated complaints, the Telangana police launched a special drive to crack down on those behind illegal streaming networks.
The investigation led them to Bihar, where they arrested 22-year-old Ashwini Kumar. A school dropout, Ashwini began hacking out of curiosity but soon turned it into a large-scale piracy racket. He used advanced techniques to break into servers of digital platforms and distribution networks.
Ashwini reportedly sold pirated films for $800 each in HD. His clients included platforms like 4RABET, which bought major titles such as Gamechanger and Tandel. He earned nearly $100,000 in cryptocurrency. His biggest leak was Hit 3, which surfaced online 18 hours before its theatrical release.
The hacker didn't stop with Telugu films. He also targeted movies in multiple languages and even broke into sensitive government offices, including the Election Commission, raising concerns about national cyber security.
The breakthrough came when police arrested Jana Kiran Kumar, who handled Ashwini's crypto transactions. Following the money trail, the police tracked down Ashwini Kumar to his hideout in Bihar.
Currently, Ashwini is in custody, and the Telangana police are investigating whether he was part of a larger organised piracy network.