BGMI-Maker Krafton In Legal Hot Water Over Alleged User Data Leak; Bombay HC Hearing On April 15: Report

Krafton India Pvt. Ltd., the publisher of hit battle royale title Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), finds itself embroiled in a serious legal battle. As reported by TalkEsport, a Maharashtra-based citizen has filed a First Information Report (FIR) accusing the gaming giant of breaching privacy agreements and illegally monetising user data. The Bombay High Court is set to hear the case on April 15, 2025.Allegations of Selling Subscriber DataThe FIR, filed on September 5, 2024, at Akluj Police Station, reportedly accuses Krafton India and four of its executives — WooYol Lim, Jitendra Bansal, Yoonal Soni, and Wooyol Shalom — of violating a legally binding service agreement signed on August 2, 2021. According to complainant Santosh Torane, the company not only breached the agreement’s confidentiality clause but also allegedly sold user data for approximately Rs 2,000 per subscriber via external platforms, including Telegram.The charges, which include criminal conspiracy (IPC 120-B), cheating (IPC 420), and offenses under Sections 72, 72A, and 85 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, paint a worrying picture of corporate overreach in handling sensitive user information.Magistrate Intervenes After Police InactionDespite reporting the issue to both the Akluj Police Station and Solapur Superintendent of Police in November 2023, Torane claims no action was taken. This prompted him to move the judiciary. In an order dated August 28, 2024, the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Malshiras, instructed the police to conduct a full investigation under Section 156(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code.The Magistrate, noting the gravity of the accusations, emphasised the necessity of a formal police inquiry to establish the facts and determine accountability.Krafton Fights Back in High CourtKrafton India, however, is not staying silent. The company has filed two writ petitions (Nos. 4806 and 5342/2024) with the Bombay High Court, aiming to quash the FIR and halt the investigation. Represented by senior lawyers from Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co., Krafton has sought interim relief against what it calls baseless allegations.A High Court bench comprising Justice Sarang V. Kotwal and Justice Dr. Neela Gokhale has consolidated both petitions and issued notices to the concerned parties. Until the next hearing on April 15, 2025, all interim orders will remain in effect.A Crucial Test for India’s Data Protection NormsWhile the case centers on a contract dispute, its implications go far beyond a single game or company, claims TalkEsport. At a time when India's tech ecosystem is under scrutiny for data misuse, this case underscores the urgent need for transparent policies and robust enforcement.For Torane, the battle is personal — but it may well have nationwide consequences. His persistence in the face of initial inaction has spotlighted the systemic delays that often plague cybercrime reporting in India.Whether the allegations withstand judicial scrutiny or get dismissed as unfounded, one thing is clear: the spotlight is now firmly on how Indian law treats digital privacy violations — especially when they involve tech giants with millions of users.

Krafton India Pvt. Ltd., the publisher of hit battle royale title Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), finds itself embroiled in a serious legal battle.

As reported by TalkEsport, a Maharashtra-based citizen has filed a First Information Report (FIR) accusing the gaming giant of breaching privacy agreements and illegally monetising user data. The Bombay High Court is set to hear the case on April 15, 2025. Allegations of Selling Subscriber Data The FIR, filed on September 5, 2024, at Akluj Police Station, reportedly accuses Krafton India and four of its executives — WooYol Lim, Jitendra Bansal, Yoonal Soni, and Wooyol Shalom — of violating a legally binding service agreement signed on August 2, 2021.

According to complainant Santosh Torane, the company not only breached the agreement’s confidentiality clause but also allegedly sold user data for approximately Rs 2,000 per subscriber via external platforms, including Telegram. The charges, which include criminal conspiracy (IPC 120-B), cheating (IPC 420), and offenses under Sections 72, 72A, and 85 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, paint a worrying picture of corporate overreach in handling sensitive user information. Magistrate Intervenes After Police Inaction Despite reporting the issue to both the Akluj Police Station and Solapur Superintendent of Police in November 2023, Torane claims no action was taken.

This prompted him to move the judiciary. In an order dated August 28, 2024, the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Malshiras, instructed the police to conduct a full investigation under Section 156(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code. The Magistrate, noting the gravity of the accusations, emphasised the necessity of a formal police inquiry to establish the facts and determine accountability.

Krafton Fights Back in High Court Krafton India, however, is not staying silent. The company has filed two writ petitions (Nos. 4806 and 5342/2024) with the Bombay High Court, aiming to quash the FIR and halt the investigation.

Represented by senior lawyers from Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co., Krafton has sought interim relief against what it calls baseless allegations. A High Court bench comprising Justice Sarang V.

Kotwal and Justice Dr. Neela Gokhale has consolidated both petitions and issued notices to the concerned parties. Until the next hearing on April 15, 2025, all interim orders will remain in effect.

A Crucial Test for India’s Data Protection Norms While the case centers on a contract dispute, its implications go far beyond a single game or company, claims TalkEsport. At a time when India's tech ecosystem is under scrutiny for data misuse, this case underscores the urgent need for transparent policies and robust enforcement. For Torane, the battle is personal — but it may well have nationwide consequences.

His persistence in the face of initial inaction has spotlighted the systemic delays that often plague cybercrime reporting in India. Whether the allegations withstand judicial scrutiny or get dismissed as unfounded, one thing is clear: the spotlight is now firmly on how Indian law treats digital privacy violations — especially when they involve tech giants with millions of users..