Respite For Dream11 Founders As Karnataka HC Restrains Police From Taking Action Against Them

A 42-year-old cab driver, Manjunatha, registered a case against Bhavit and Harsh at the Annapoorneshwari Nagar police station in Bengaluru on October 8 after the Karnataka govt made a new amendment

Karnataka HC. (File Photo)

Chennai: Karnataka High Court on Thursday restrains police from taking action against founders of online sports fantasy platform Dream11 -- Bhavit Sheth & Harsh Jain. The founding duo on Monday seeked the HC to quash the FIR filed against them notifying that their firm has stalled operations earlier this month.   

An FIR was filed against the founders of the platform on October 8 over the new amendment made by Karnataka government in recent Assembly session which restricts online fantasy games.

Karnataka HC restrains police from taking action against Dream11 gaming app founder Bhavit Sheth & Harsh Jain, according to new amendment made by Karnataka Govt in last Assembly session which restricts online games

— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2021

A 42-year-old cab driver, Manjunatha, registered a case against Bhavit and Harsh at the Annapoorneshwari Nagar police station in Bengaluru on October 8. The gambling platform founding duo was accused of violating the amendments passed by the Karnataka government. According to a report in Hindustan Times, Dream11, in a statement released by on October 9, said, "Out Karnataka users have expressed deep concern about their financial security. After knowing about users insecurities, we have decided to suspend operations in the state,"

The BJP govenrment passed the resolution in the recently concluded Assembly session. Notifying the perpetrators who violate the law would be booked under non-bailable offence. They would be slapped with a fine of Rs 1 lakh and an imprisonment upto three years.

Besides Dream 11, MPL and Paytm First Games have also stalled their operations in the state after the ascent of the bill in the Assembly.

However, Karnataka HC on October 22 told the state government not make arrests under the new gambling law as many gaming firms would come under scanner.