Bombay High Court Directs Withdrawal Of Application To Include Celebrities In PIL Against Gambling Apps
The Petitioner, Mr. Ganesh Ranu Nanaware has filed the captioned Criminal Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay
Bombay High Court Directs Withdrawal Of Application To Include Celebrities In PIL Against Gambling Apps
The Petitioner, Mr. Ganesh Ranu Nanaware has filed the captioned Criminal Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court against four Respondents viz. the State of Maharashtra (Respondent No. 1), Google India Pvt. Ltd (Respondent No. 2), Junglee Rummy (Respondent No. 3) and Rummy Circle (Respondent No. 4) (original Respondents). In the PIL, the Petitioner has sought directions against Respondent No. 1 for taking action against Respondents No. 2 to 4 and for banning the online rummy applications of Respondents No. 3 and 4. Further, the Petitioner has sought directions against Respondent No. 2 restraining it from providing a server to Respondents No.3 and 4.
In the PIL, in August 2024 the Petitioner has also preferred the captioned Interim Application (IA) seeking to implead Mr. Shah Rukh Khan along with other celebrities on the basis that they endorse and promote the various online rummy applications.
Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, and Justice Amit Borkar orally observed that by filing the IA seeking to implead individuals on the basis that they endorse and promote various online rummy applications, the Petitioner was diluting the core issue of the PIL, which is whether online rummy applications constitute a game of skill or a game of chance.
After further hearing, the Court directed Petitioner to either withdraw the said IA or they will dismiss it. Accordingly, the Petitioner has withdrawn the said IA and same stands dismissed as not pressed.
The PIL is pending and will be heard only against the original 4 Respondents.
DSK Legal team included Parag Khandhar, Partner, Chandrima Mitra Partner, Anaheeta Verma and Pratyusha Dhodda, Associates.