Digital feed hacking and betting: Hyderabad cops bust hi-tech movie piracy racket, 5 held

Hyderabad: In a significant crackdown, Hyderabad Cybercrime Police have dismantled one of India’s largest movie piracy networks, arresting five key members and issuing notices to five others who aided the racket.

The operation comes after extensive investigations into the illegal distribution of several Telugu films, causing estimated losses of Rs 3,700 crore to the film industry.

Massive financial loss to Telugu Film Industry

The gang is accused of illegally recording, distributing, and uploading Telugu and other language films online. Complaints were filed by the Anti-Video Piracy Cell of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC), revealing that pirated HD copies often appeared on the very first day of a film’s release.

Police confirmed that the recent targets included major Telugu releases such as HIT: The Third Case, Single, Kuberaa, and Hari Hara Veera Mallu.

How the Piracy Operated: High-Tech Methods

Authorities explained that the gang primarily used two methods to obtain films:

1. Hacking Digital Servers: Stealing HD copies from studios and digital service providers before official releases.

2. Cam Recordings: Recording films inside theatres during first-day screenings using hidden cameras, smartphones, or camcorders.

The gang distributed pirated content globally via Telegram channels, torrent sites, and hacked digital satellite feeds. They monetized the content through betting and gaming app advertisements.

Arrests and roles of key accused

The arrested members include:

Jana Kiran Kumar (29, Hyderabad): Cam-recorded over 100 Telugu films in theatres using an iPhone; sold copies for $300–400 per film.

Ashwani Kumar (21, Bihar): Hacked digital servers to steal HD copies; charged $800 per movie; had 22 CCTV cameras at home.

Arsalan Ahmed (23, Bihar/Goa): Managed file uploads, crypto wallets, and Telegram channels.

Cyril Infant Raj Amaladoss (32, Tamil Nadu): Mastermind of 1TamilBlasters; ran servers abroad; uploaded 500+ movies since 2020; earned ₹2 crore+ in crypto.

Sudhakaran (31, Tamil Nadu): Recorded 35 Tamil and Telugu films; uploaded via Telegram.

Some members even used international IP addresses from the Netherlands and Paris to evade detection.

Crypto trail fuels piracy profits

The gang’s transactions were routed entirely through cryptocurrency. Payments for pirated films were made in Bitcoin (BTC) and Tether (USDT), converted into cash through intermediaries. Cyril Raj, for instance, earned $10,000 per month via betting app promotions on piracy websites, with demands reaching $30,000 monthly.

Police Advisory to Industry

Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand urged filmmakers and digital media companies to strengthen content security measures. “Clicking links on piracy websites can expose user information to criminals. Filmmakers and streaming platforms must remain vigilant,” he warned.