Karnataka HC quashes FIR against Dream11 cofounders

Bengaluru: The Karnataka high court has quashed the FIR registered by the Bengaluru City Police against Dream11 cofounders Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth, last year, on charges of violating the provisions of the now-repealed Karnataka Police (Amendment) Act, 2021.

The amendments no longer exist as the Karnataka High Court last month had struck down the contentious amendments to the Karnataka Police Act, 1963, dealing with online games, allowing the petitions filed by the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) and gaming companies.

The Karnataka government, on October 5, last year notified the law banning betting and wagering in online games after Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot gave his assent.


The Karnataka Legislature had passed amendments to the Karnataka Police Act, 1963 during its recent sitting.

Tamil Nadu had, last year, promulgated an ordinance amending its Gaming & Police Laws Act, 2021, which banned online gambling. The Madras High Court, however, struck down the amendments calling the law unconstitutional.

Kerala too had last year prohibited online rummy games under the purview of the Kerala Gaming Act. It was set aside too.