Article Today, Hyderabad:
Hyderabad Police have unearthed a sophisticated digital satellite hacking racket capable of stealing sensitive data. Commissioner C.V. Anand said the group was not limited to film piracy but had also targeted government systems, including the Election Commission website. Employee records and salary information were allegedly stolen during these operations.
Bihar Connection
Investigators traced the network to Patna, where a key accused, Ashwini Kumar, operated. He was known for his ability to penetrate digital media servers. Earlier, he allegedly hacked government websites, including the Election Commission portal. Police teams visiting his residence found it secured with 22 CCTV cameras. The accused used servers with Netherlands-based IP addresses to upload pirated copies of films. The content was routed through Telegram channels before appearing on torrent sites.
Heavy Losses for Film Industry
Unlike conventional piracy that relies on illegal camera recordings inside theatres, the racket hacked digital satellites directly. This method enabled them to produce high-definition copies that were virtually indistinguishable from originals. As a result, cinema audiences had access to free digital versions without buying tickets. Commissioner Anand stated that the Telugu film industry alone suffered losses estimated at Rs. 3,700 crore due to this activity.
International Links and Crypto Payments
The police revealed that the group profited through advertisements for betting and gaming applications hosted on piracy websites. All payments were routed through cryptocurrencies, making the trail difficult to detect. One of the accused, identified as Kiran, reportedly earned up to one lakh US dollars from these operations. Each time users clicked on pirated links, their personal data was also compromised.
Wider Investigations Underway
Commissioner Anand said the racket maintained links with groups based in the Netherlands and Dubai. Despite technical barriers, the hackers repeatedly found alternative routes to continue piracy. With evidence pointing to both financial crimes and threats to national data security, further investigations are underway to identify the full extent of the network.
