WinZo Games Directors sent to 10-day ED custody in Money Laundering Case

A court in Bengaluru on Friday granted 10-day custody of two directors of WinZo Games Private Limited to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering investigation. The accused, identified as Saumya Singh Rathore and Rohan Nanda, were produced before the court after their arrest.

The ED had sought 14 days of custody, arguing that the directors are accused of using a concealed algorithm named “PPP” in real-money games like Ludo and Snakes to manipulate outcomes and cheat players. The agency alleged that this generated proceeds of crime amounting to at least Rs 177 crore between May 2024 and August 2025. It was further submitted that a significant amount, around USD 55 million (approximately Rs 490 crore), is held in foreign accounts of the company’s subsidiaries.

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The counsel for the accused opposed the custody, contending that the arrest of Saumya Singh was made after sunset in violation of Supreme Court guidelines. They also argued that the accused had fully cooperated with the investigation and that their custodial interrogation was unnecessary, especially since relevant bank accounts had already been frozen.

The court, after examining the records, noted the ED’s claim that the arrest was effected at 5:25 PM, before sunset. It found merit in the ED’s submission that custodial interrogation was necessary to establish the money trail, identify proceeds of crime, and unearth the larger conspiracy.

While the ED sought 14 days, the court granted custody for 10 days, until December 6, with specific conditions. These include a directive that the accused must not be ill-treated, must be provided food and medicine, and must be allowed to consult their counsel for 30 minutes daily. The counsel is also permitted to be present during interrogation from a distance.