Krafton, the publisher behind Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), has found itself in hot water — and it’s not for in-game bugs this time. The company is facing serious legal heat in India over allegations of privacy violations, unauthorised data monetisation, and even breaching a service contract.A First Information Report (FIR) filed by Maharashtra resident Santosh Torane accuses Krafton of selling user data through Telegram, reportedly for Rs 2,000 per user. The case is now heading to the Bombay High Court, and a full-blown investigation is already underway.
Filed on September 5, 2024, at the Akluj Police Station, the FIR doesn’t hold back. It directly names four Krafton executives — WooYol Lim, Jitendra Bansal, Yoonal Soni, and Wooyol Shalom — accusing them of violating a legally binding agreement signed in August 2021.Torane claims the company turned around and sold sensitive user data via Telegram, a major breach of trust if true. Charges have been filed under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal conspiracy (120-B), cheating (420), and violations under Sections 72, 72A, and 85 of the IT Act.
Torane says he raised the issue with local authorities and the Solapur SP in late 2023 but didn’t see any real action. Frustrated, he took the legal route. On August 28, the Judicial Magistrate First Class in Malshiras ordered police to investigate under Section 156(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code, calling the charges “grave” and stressing the need for a detailed probe.
In response to the allegations, Krafton maintained that user data protection remains a top priority. The company said it follows the highest standards of data security and added that since the matter is sub judice, it would wait for the court process to unfold before offering further clarifications.The Bombay High Court, led by Justices Sarang V. Kotwal and Dr. Neela Gokhale, has taken up the case, with all related petitions merged. Interim orders remain active, and the next hearing is set for April 15, 2025.One thing’s clear — this case could have massive implications for how user privacy and data rights are handled in India’s booming mobile gaming industry.
