Movie piracy has been a serious problem for the film industry. Films in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi are often copied illegally and shared online shortly after release, causing huge losses for producers and distributors. Authorities have been trying to track such gangs for years, but many operate across countries, making it challenging to catch them.
Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police recently arrested six members of one of the largest movie piracy gangs in the country. Police estimate that the gang caused nearly ₹22,000 crore in losses to the film industry.
The investigation began after a complaint about a Sree Vishnu’s #Single film being pirated. Police arrested a suspect named Kiran from Vanasthalipuram on July 3. During questioning, it was revealed that other gang members were located in Dubai, the Netherlands, and Myanmar.
The gang used sophisticated methods to steal films. They cracked IDs and passwords for satellite content and trained agents to secretly record movies in theaters using hidden cameras placed in shirts, popcorn boxes, and coke cans. The agents were paid commissions in cryptocurrency. The gang focused not only on Telugu films but also on Tamil, Malayalam, and Hindi films, uploading pirated versions online within hours of release.
Hyderabad CP, CV Anand will soon explain the gang’s methods to producers and actors through a presentation. Authorities say this arrest is a major step in tackling organized movie piracy and protecting the film industry’s revenue.
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