The ED has arrested three Gamezkraft founders after searches in Karnataka and NCR as scrutiny intensifies on online money gaming platforms under the new gaming law.
File Photo: IANS
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested the three founders of Gamezkraft Technologies Ltd in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to alleged cheating and fraud through online real money gaming platforms.
Deepak Singh and Prithvi Raj Singh were arrested from the National Capital Region, while another founder, Vikash Taneja, was taken into custody in Bengaluru. The action comes at a time when the Centre has moved to tighten its grip on online money gaming through a new law aimed at banning such platforms and their financial ecosystem.
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According to officials, the arrests followed extensive searches conducted by the ED on May 7 across 17 locations in Karnataka and the NCR region linked to the Gamezkraft group, its founders, and employees. Investigators claimed to have recovered documents and other materials during the raids that allegedly point towards offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
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After the arrests, the agency secured transit remand for Deepak Singh and Prithvi Raj Singh to produce them before a Bengaluru court. Taneja was produced before the jurisdictional court in Bengaluru.
The ED case against Gamezkraft Technologies Ltd and associated entities stems from several FIRs registered against the company and its founders in alleged cheating and fraud cases linked to online money gaming applications, including platforms such as ‘RummyCulture’ and the rummytime app.
Officials said multiple FIRs were also connected to alleged suicides by victims linked to the gaming platforms.
The agency said the founders were allegedly involved in laundering proceeds generated through the operation of online real money gaming services.
The arrests also come shortly after President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which was recently cleared by Parliament.
The legislation seeks to promote e-sports and online social gaming while prohibiting online money gaming services, related advertisements, and financial transactions associated with such platforms.
The Bill proposes a complete ban on offering, operating, or facilitating online money games, irrespective of whether the games are based on skill, chance, or a combination of both.
Sources had earlier indicated that players participating in online money games would not face punishment. Instead, action would primarily target service providers, promoters, advertisers, and those financially backing such gaming operations.
The proposed framework also empowers authorised officers to investigate offences, conduct searches and seizures, and, in certain cases, make arrests without a warrant.
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