RummyCircle operator moves Madras HC against crime branch notice

Games 24×7 has filed a petition within the Madras High Court, difficult a discover issued by the crime department of Chennai’s police over the suicide of a consumer of the corporate’s on-line gaming platform, RummyCircle.

The crime department is investigating into the suicide of 1 Manikandan, and has filed an FIR that claims he had killed himself after dropping cash enjoying RummyCircle.

Games 24×7, in its petition seen by ET, stated Manikandan, who had dedicated suicide on January 2 final 12 months, had final performed on RummyCircle on April 6, 2017.

Despite the truth that Manikandan had not utilised the platform for 5 years, and even after the corporate sharing this info with them, the crime department “predetermined and concluded through their notices that the death of the deceased is due to RummyCircle”, the company said in its petition dated March 6. The petition has been reviewed by ET

RummyCircle is the largest online rummy platform in India. The company also operates My11Circle, a fantasy sports platform.

Games 24×7 alleged that the crime branch under the guise of an inquiry was conducting “a fishing and roving” enquiry against it. According to the petition, the company was asked to produce materials and information confidential and proprietary to its operations, without demonstrating relevance to the inquiry.

The company said it was carrying on a legally permitted business. “To aid their ulterior motives to strangle the legally permitted business activities of the petitioners, the respondents have initiated and are conducting a fishing and roving enquiry” and are “harassing the petitioners”, it alleged.Jay Sayta, a technology & gaming lawyer, told ET: “This is possibly the first time that an FIR has been filed blaming an online gaming company for murder for a suicide committed by a user who has played on its platform in the past.”

Blaming a web based gaming platform for homicide is “quite far-fetched”, particularly for the reason that individual is claimed to have final used the platform solely in 2017 and dedicated suicide in 2022, Sayta stated, including: “Games 24×7 searching for aid from the HC on this case is presumably the primary time that such a discover is being challenged within the excessive courtroom.”

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