‘Ravi a flight risk’, cops tell Telangana HC as they oppose bail in Tollywood piracy case

HYDERABAD: The Telangana high court on Friday directed the police to obtain instructions on the bail petitions filed by Emandi Ravi, alias iBomma Ravi, the mastermind and sole accused in the movie piracy racket that shook the tollywood film industry.

Justice K Sujana, who was hearing bail petitions filed by Ravi in five separate cases registered against him, directed his counsel to produce Ravi's Irish passport if he wants to be granted bail. However, Ravi's counsel, Muzaffar Ali Khan, informed the court that no such passport existed. Ravi moved the bail petitions on the grounds that the police had already concluded their probe and also conducted custodial interrogation.

Opposing the bail petitions, public prosecutor Palle Nageshwar Rao contended that Ravi orchestrated a massive piracy racket that resulted in losses amounting to thousands of crores. "If granted bail, there is every possibility of him fleeing the country," argued Rao. Recording the submissions, the judge adjourned the matter for further hearing.