Hyderabad: A major breakthrough in the fight against digital piracy has finally arrived. CCS police have arrested Immadi Ravi, the alleged mastermind behind the notorious piracy website Ibomma. The arrest took place in an apartment at Kukatpally shortly after Ravi arrived from France on November 14. His detention has created shockwaves across the Telugu film industry, which has suffered massive losses for years because of Ibomma’s illegal movie leaks.
How Police Tracked and Arrested Him
Investigators had been monitoring Ravi’s movements for weeks. According to police sources, Ravi operated Ibomma servers from overseas—particularly from Caribbean islands—to avoid Indian jurisdiction. The moment he landed in Hyderabad, officers moved swiftly, raiding his apartment and taking him into custody. Authorities seized digital devices, checked remote servers, and froze approximately ₹3 crore linked to his accounts.
How Ibomma Damaged Tollywood
Ibomma became infamous for releasing HD prints of new movies within hours of their theatrical or OTT release. Producers repeatedly said their financial losses were in crores because audiences waited for pirated prints instead of purchasing tickets. Several top producers had filed complaints urging action, arguing the platform was hurting theatrical revenue, OTT deals, and even smaller filmmakers who depend entirely on opening-week collections.
Police Investigation: What Happens Next?
- Forensic experts are examining seized devices for upload logs and payment routes.
- Cybercrime teams are tracking mirror websites and backups used by Ravi’s network.
- International coordination may be initiated to block offshore servers.
- More arrests are likely if associates are identified during investigation.
Producers React to the Arrest
Tollywood producers have welcomed the development and called it a “much-needed action.” Many said they hope this marks the beginning of stricter anti-piracy laws and fast takedown mechanisms. They also warned that even with this arrest, piracy networks often re-emerge under new names unless monitoring is continuous.
Is the Ibomma Website Down Now?
Since the arrest, many users reported that Ibomma domains are not opening, loading slowly, or redirecting to error pages. Police are verifying whether the shutdown is permanent. The future of the website—whether it is closed forever or temporarily offline—will become clear after technical analysis of servers.
Why This Arrest Matters
The detention of Immadi Ravi sends a strong message: movie piracy will not be ignored anymore. For years, filmmakers struggled to combat illegal leaks, but enforcement was inconsistent. This case marks a turning point and sets a precedent for tougher crackdowns going forward.
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