Hyderabad police have cracked down on iBomma, one of the most infamous piracy platforms for Telugu movies. A gang of five people was arrested for leaking films online through piracy websites and Telegram channels.
The gang secretly recorded movies in theatres and uploaded them for profit, also earning money through betting networks. They worked across several cities and leaked more than 500 films in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, and Bhojpuri.
Police named the key members as Jana Kiran Kumar, Ashwani Kumar, Cyril, and Infant Raju, who handled movie transfers and decided payouts depending on a film's reach.
Piracy has caused massive losses to the industry. India has lost over Rs 22,400 crore, and the Telugu film industry alone lost around Rs 3,700 crore. Police confirmed iBomma is now their focus and warned that piracy sites will not be spared.
Filmmakers urged viewers to reject piracy platforms and apps. They stressed that piracy not only destroys box office collections but also disrespects the effort and money put into making films. Youth are encouraged to use their skills in constructive ways and avoid crime.