Hyderabad | December 31, 2025: The high-profile iBomma piracy case, which has sent shockwaves across the Telugu film industry, has taken a dramatic turn with the Hyderabad Cybercrime Police uncovering a fake identity trail allegedly used to run the illegal operation. Investigators now say the prime accused, Immandi Ravi, operated the large-scale piracy network using forged identity documents belonging to an unsuspecting Bengaluru-based professional, deepening the criminal conspiracy behind the racket.
According to investigators, Ravi fraudulently obtained key identity documents, including a PAN card and driving licence, in the name of V Prahlad, a software professional working in Bengaluru. These documents were allegedly used to open bank accounts and conduct online financial transactions linked to the piracy operation.
False Claims Exposed During Verification
During initial questioning, Ravi had claimed that Prahlad was his former roommate and that he had used the identity details with consent. However, this claim collapsed during cross-verification. Police summoned Prahlad to Hyderabad and confronted him with the accused after Ravi’s police custody ended earlier this week.
Prahlad reportedly told investigators that he had never met Ravi and had never shared accommodation with him. He expressed shock on learning that official identity documents had been issued in his name without his knowledge or consent. Prahlad has alleged that his personal details were forged and misused for illegal activities, prompting police to suspect systematic identity theft.
Investigators believe Ravi may have secretly obtained Prahlad’s personal documents and used them to create fake identity proofs. These forged credentials were allegedly instrumental in opening multiple bank accounts and facilitating financial flows linked to the piracy network.
Piracy Operation Of Massive Scale
Ravi, a native of Visakhapatnam, is the main accused in the iBomma piracy case and has been questioned multiple times since his arrest. According to police, searches conducted at locations linked to him led to the seizure of multiple hard drives containing nearly 21,000 pirated movies in various languages.
During interrogation, Ravi reportedly admitted to recording movies released on OTT platforms and then outsourcing technical work to improve audio and video quality before uploading them illegally. The operation is believed to have catered to a massive user base across India and overseas, causing significant losses to filmmakers and content platforms.
Unofficial estimates suggest that the piracy network generated nearly ₹20 crore in illegal revenue. However, police have so far managed to freeze around ₹3.5 crore from bank accounts linked to the accused as part of the ongoing financial investigation.
Fake Citizenship Claim Under Scanner
Investigators are also probing Ravi’s claim that he held citizenship of a Caribbean island. Police say this assertion appears to be part of a broader attempt to mislead authorities. Despite claiming foreign citizenship, Ravi was allegedly residing in Kukatpally, Hyderabad, and was not absconding as initially believed.
Police are now examining whether the fake identity documents and citizenship claims were used to mask his digital footprint, evade law enforcement and move funds across jurisdictions.
Identity Theft Adds New Criminal Dimensions
Cybercrime officials say the fake identity angle has added multiple new offences to the case, including forgery, identity theft, impersonation and financial fraud. The misuse of another individual’s identity to open bank accounts and conduct transactions is being treated as a serious aggravating factor.
Investigators are analysing digital trails, bank records and device data to identify possible accomplices who may have assisted Ravi in creating forged documents or managing the financial aspects of the operation.
Industry And Law Enforcement Impact
The iBomma case has become one of the largest piracy investigations handled by the Hyderabad Cybercrime Police in recent years. Officials say the case highlights how modern piracy networks operate like organised criminal enterprises, combining technology, identity fraud and financial manipulation.
Police have indicated that further arrests are possible as the probe progresses, particularly if evidence emerges of facilitators involved in document forgery, money laundering or technical operations.
As the investigation continues, authorities say the focus remains on dismantling the entire piracy ecosystem, recovering proceeds of crime and ensuring accountability for the large-scale misuse of digital platforms and stolen identities.
