The Hyderabad police, under the leadership of Commissioner C.V. Anand, recently uncovered a significant cinema piracy operation with a reach extending as far as Bihar. This investigation revealed a complex and highly organized network engaged in illicit activities, including the recording of films directly in theaters and the hacking of digital media servers to procure high-quality, pre-release film content.
Racket's Modus Operandi
The network employed a bifurcated strategy. Firstly, individuals discreetly recorded films on their release day by concealing cameras—often in their shirt pockets—while inside theaters. Secondly, and more notably, members of the group executed cyber intrusions into digital media servers, allowing them to obtain pristine copies of unreleased films. The pirated content was subsequently distributed via notorious online platforms such as 1TamilMV, 5MoviezRulz, and 1TamilBlasters. In order to maintain anonymity, financial transactions for these illegal activities were conducted using crypto-currencies like Bitcoin.
Key Arrests and Bihar & TN Connection
Law enforcement arrested five principal suspects and issued notices to five additional individuals involved in facilitating the operation. The apprehended suspects represent various regions, including Ashwani Kumar from Bihar, Cyril Infant Raj Amaladoss and Sudhakaran from Tamil Nadu, Jana Kiran Kumar from Hyderabad, and Arsalan Ahmed from Goa. The arrest of Ashwani Kumar, in particular, established the interstate scope of the operation.
Rs 23400 Cr Loss in 2023 Alone
From a financial perspective, the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC) estimated that film piracy resulted in a staggering loss of Rs 22,400 crore to the Indian film industry in 2023 alone. The police have registered two cases, invoke multiple sections of the IT Act, Copyright Act, and Cinematograph Act, which carry the possibility of imprisonment and substantial fines. This operation is regarded as one of the most consequential anti-piracy measures in India, targeting a network responsible for the distribution of pirated content from Telugu, Bollywood, Tamil, Kannada, and Hollywood cinema.