Hyderabad Man Arrested for Recording Films Inside Cinemas, Earned Rs 40 Lakh in Cryptocurrency Through Piracy Racket

By Editor in Chief On Jul 10, 2025

By Ruby Zaidi

In a shocking development from #Hyderabad, a man named #KiranKumar, who worked as an air-conditioner technician by profession, has been arrested for his involvement in a well-organized film piracy operation that had been running under the radar for nearly two years.

The arrest was made earlier this week during a joint operation conducted by the #CyberCrimePolice and the #TelanganaFilmChamberOfCommerce’s Anti-Piracy Cell, which had been tracking illegal content leaks linked to cinemas in the city.

What’s most startling is how Kiran Kumar, a seemingly ordinary technician, had created a profitable side business by secretly recording newly released movies inside cinema halls and then leaking them to piracy websites.

Over the last 18 months, he reportedly earned more than ₹40 lakh, and all of it was paid in #cryptocurrency, making the financial trail harder to trace.

Authorities have confirmed that his digital payments are currently under active investigation, particularly focusing on the involvement of #overseas handlers. #PiracyRacket #DigitalCrime

Modus Operandi: Cinemas, Smartphones, and Low Footfall Shows

During police interrogation, Kiran made a full confession. He admitted to illegally recording over 40 films across multiple cinema halls in Hyderabad.

He revealed that his strategy involved visiting theatres during low-occupancy shows, especially during weekdays or early morning screenings, which helped him remain unnoticed by staff and viewers alike. #FilmLeak #CinemaPiracy

Kiran used his iPhone, neatly and discreetly tucked inside his shirt pocket, to capture the films. He ensured the camera lens was properly aligned, and he would sit at strategic spots in the theatre to avoid heads or obstructions from other viewers.

His method was both calculated and meticulous, showcasing how organized piracy has become in the digital age. #SmartphoneAbuse #HiddenCamera

One of the recent examples of his activity was on May 9, when he recorded the Telugu film #Single just days after its theatrical release. After capturing the film, he compressed the video into a 5GB file and sent it directly to handlers who run pirated movie websites. #NewReleaseLeak

Professional Piracy Pipeline: From Raw Footage to Illicit Streaming

Once the raw video footage was transferred, the material went through post-production by the piracy team.

According to sources, the handlers edited the footage professionally, removing camera shake, cropping to remove heads and obstructions, performing colour correction, and even trimming redundant scenes.

The final pirated product was made to look as close to an official release as possible and was then distributed across multiple illegal streaming platforms and torrent sites. #MovieLeak #PiratedContent #OTTTheft

This highly organized pipeline of piracy not only violates intellectual property rights but also causes massive losses to the film industry, especially in regions like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, where the #Tollywood market is booming.

Crypto Trail and International Links Under Investigation

Investigators have also discovered that Kiran received cryptocurrency payments, making it difficult to track the origin of the funds. Authorities suspect that he was being paid by international piracy syndicates operating from abroad.

These syndicates are known to exploit digital currency to facilitate illegal transactions with anonymity. #CryptoCrime #InternationalPiracy #BlackMoney

The cybercrime division is currently tracing the wallet IDs and transaction logs, attempting to build connections with other piracy networks that may be operating across Indian cities.

Crackdown on Piracy Intensifies

The Telangana Film Chamber and law enforcement agencies have now promised to intensify their surveillance and strengthen anti-piracy measures. The arrest of Kiran Kumar has sent a strong message to others who may be part of such digital piracy networks. Officials stated that more arrests could follow, and cinema hall managements are being urged to increase vigilance by installing better CCTV systems and monitoring suspicious behavior during shows. #AntiPiracyDrive #SaveCinema

The Need for Digital Awareness and Strict Penalties

This case is yet another reminder of how technology, when misused, can damage creative industries. While cinema halls are now recovering from pandemic-era losses, they continue to battle the threat of piracy that undermines the hard work of filmmakers, actors, and production teams.

The authorities have urged the public not to support or consume pirated content and to report suspicious links or uploads. The fight against piracy is not just legal — it is also ethical. #SupportOriginal #SayNoToPiracy #RespectCinema

Hyderabad Man Arrested for Recording Films Inside Cinemas, Earned Rs 40 Lakh in Cryptocurrency Through Piracy Racket

By Ruby Zaidi

In a shocking development from #Hyderabad, a man named #KiranKumar, who worked as an air-conditioner technician by profession, has been arrested for his involvement in a well-organized film piracy operation that had been running under the radar for nearly two years.

The arrest was made earlier this week during a joint operation conducted by the #CyberCrimePolice and the #TelanganaFilmChamberOfCommerce’s Anti-Piracy Cell, which had been tracking illegal content leaks linked to cinemas in the city.

What’s most startling is how Kiran Kumar, a seemingly ordinary technician, had created a profitable side business by secretly recording newly released movies inside cinema halls and then leaking them to piracy websites.

Over the last 18 months, he reportedly earned more than ₹40 lakh, and all of it was paid in #cryptocurrency, making the financial trail harder to trace.

Authorities have confirmed that his digital payments are currently under active investigation, particularly focusing on the involvement of #overseas handlers. #PiracyRacket #DigitalCrime

Modus Operandi: Cinemas, Smartphones, and Low Footfall Shows

During police interrogation, Kiran made a full confession. He admitted to illegally recording over 40 films across multiple cinema halls in Hyderabad.

He revealed that his strategy involved visiting theatres during low-occupancy shows, especially during weekdays or early morning screenings, which helped him remain unnoticed by staff and viewers alike. #FilmLeak #CinemaPiracy

Kiran used his iPhone, neatly and discreetly tucked inside his shirt pocket, to capture the films. He ensured the camera lens was properly aligned, and he would sit at strategic spots in the theatre to avoid heads or obstructions from other viewers.

His method was both calculated and meticulous, showcasing how organized piracy has become in the digital age. #SmartphoneAbuse #HiddenCamera

One of the recent examples of his activity was on May 9, when he recorded the Telugu film #Single just days after its theatrical release. After capturing the film, he compressed the video into a 5GB file and sent it directly to handlers who run pirated movie websites. #NewReleaseLeak

Professional Piracy Pipeline: From Raw Footage to Illicit Streaming

Once the raw video footage was transferred, the material went through post-production by the piracy team.

According to sources, the handlers edited the footage professionally, removing camera shake, cropping to remove heads and obstructions, performing colour correction, and even trimming redundant scenes.

The final pirated product was made to look as close to an official release as possible and was then distributed across multiple illegal streaming platforms and torrent sites. #MovieLeak #PiratedContent #OTTTheft

This highly organized pipeline of piracy not only violates intellectual property rights but also causes massive losses to the film industry, especially in regions like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, where the #Tollywood market is booming.

Crypto Trail and International Links Under Investigation

Investigators have also discovered that Kiran received cryptocurrency payments, making it difficult to track the origin of the funds. Authorities suspect that he was being paid by international piracy syndicates operating from abroad.

These syndicates are known to exploit digital currency to facilitate illegal transactions with anonymity. #CryptoCrime #InternationalPiracy #BlackMoney

The cybercrime division is currently tracing the wallet IDs and transaction logs, attempting to build connections with other piracy networks that may be operating across Indian cities.

Crackdown on Piracy Intensifies

The Need for Digital Awareness and Strict Penalties

This case is yet another reminder of how technology, when misused, can damage creative industries. While cinema halls are now recovering from pandemic-era losses, they continue to battle the threat of piracy that undermines the hard work of filmmakers, actors, and production teams.

The authorities have urged the public not to support or consume pirated content and to report suspicious links or uploads. The fight against piracy is not just legal — it is also ethical. #SupportOriginal #SayNoToPiracy #RespectCinema

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