Baahubali 2 Producers Threatened, Gang Demands Rs 15 Lakh For Not Releasing Pirated Copy

Hyderabad: Six persons were arrested by the cyber crime police in Hyderabad for threatening Bahubali-2 producers of circulating a pirated copy of the block-buster hit. The gang reportedly demanded Rs 15 lakh from Karan Johar and other producers of the film.

Prasad Devineni, one of the producers, lodged a complaint with the Hyderabad police on April 29. According to the police, Devineni received a call from one Rahul Mehta, claiming to be a representative of an ‘anti-piracy agency' who told him that a pirated High-Definition (HD) print of the film was in his possession.

"He even showed them a sample video to prove his claim and tried to extort money saying that the release of pirated copy would be withheld for a few days," DCP Avinash Mohanty said.

The police launched investigation and on a tip-off, the kingpin Rahul was arrested from Jubilee Hills on May 11. During interrogation it was revealed that the same gang also indulged in piracy of Baahubali part one. The accused are: Rahul Mehta (26), Jitender Kumar Mehta (37), Taufiq, (27), Mohammed Ali (39), Divakar Kumar and Chandan. Monu, their associate is at large and manhunt has been launched to nab him.

Explaining their modus operandi of the gang, the DCP said, "The hi-tech gang operated film piracy syndicate in a much organised manner. Divaker, is the owner of Veena Cinema theatre in Beguusarai district of Bihar. He copied the digital HD copy of the movie and created a pirated version of the same to illegally upload it on the internet and make easy money."

All the accused hail from Delhi, while Divakar hails from Bihar and Chandan is a native of Patna.