iBomma case: How movie piracy sites monetise stolen content through betting ads, crypto

Hyderabad: The recent arrest of iBomma founder Immadhi Ravi, the alleged mastermind behind one of India’s biggest movie-piracy networks, has sparked debate and confusion. For many users, iBomma was just a free website to watch Telugu and regional movies.

But for the police, the platform was the centre of a large-scale copyright violation, cybercrime, data-harvesting and illegal revenue network that operated across countries.

Ravi was arrested by Hyderabad Cyber Crime police from his residence at Kukatpally on November 15, after he returned from France. In the past, he openly challenged both the police and the film industry, asserting that no one could stop his operations.

The website has been down ever since his arrest.

What was iBomma?

iBomma was a free streaming and download website known primarily in Telugu-speaking states. It offered users ‘quick access’ to newly released movies, OTT titles and web-series, content that would normally require a cinema ticket or a paid subscription.

Over the years, the network expanded across languages and countries using dozens of mirror domains to stay online even after government bans.

The bans were prompted because of how the website illegally obtained its content.

How did the platform operate?

iBomma did not own rights to any of the content it hosted. It obtained films illegally through camcorder theatre prints, leaked OTT screeners and digital theft.

Once blocked, the operators relaunched the service using new URLs, proxies and offshore servers, making it difficult for authorities to shut down.

The platform reportedly had a massive user base, millions of monthly visitors from India and abroad, becoming one of the most widely accessed piracy hubs for Telugu cinema.

How did they make money if the movies were free?

The model was based on layered illegal revenue streams, advertising on high-traffic pirated content, redirecting users to illegal betting apps, collecting user data and monetising it and selling ad space to offshore companies using crypto and foreign payments.

Authorities allege earnings of crores over several years, some of which were routed abroad and invested in international assets.

Why is it being called a cyber and financial crime?

The case goes beyond piracy.

Police said the network used foreign servers and shell companies, registered multiple domains to avoid tracking, illegally collected user information and browsing patterns, and laundered earnings through overseas accounts.

This made the case fall under copyright violation, IT Act offences, money laundering and cyber-fraud, not just piracy.

What is the impact on the film industry?

Telugu and South Indian film bodies have long complained that piracy causes hundreds of crores in annual losses.

Producers say platforms like iBomma reduce theatre footfalls, delay OTT deals, impact smaller films disproportionately, harm local technicians and crews dependent on box office revenue, and industry members welcomed the arrest as a significant breakthrough.

Why should the public care?

Many users believed that iBomma was harmless—‘just watching movies for free.’ But investigators claim the platform exposed users to malware, identity theft, gambling apps and data leaks, making viewers unintentionally part of a larger illegal ecosystem.

What happens next?

The arrest marks a major step in a long battle against digital piracy.

Enforcement agencies will now investigate financial trails linked to foreign countries, technical teams and partners who helped run mirror sites, users and advertisers who engaged commercially with the network.

The iBomma case and the arrest of its primary administrator may also set legal precedent for stronger digital piracy laws in India.