On Friday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested three founders of Gameskraft Technologies — Deepak and Prithvi Raj Singh, and Vikas Taneja — in connection with cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Per media reports, the arrests come following searches across Karnataka and the National Capital Region on May 7.
Here is what we know so far:
What is the matter about?
The case stems from multiple FIRs for cheating and fraud worth Rs 1,000 crore linked to the company’s real-money gaming (RMG) platforms, according to a CNBC TV-18 report.
Founded in June 2017, the Bengaluru-based startup operated a suite of RMG platforms, including RummyCulture, RummyTime, and Pocket52. Per Entrackr, Gameskraft’s revenue from operations grew to Rs 3,475 crore in FY24 from Rs 2,673 crore in FY23. The company, however, discontinued operations following a government ban on RMG platforms last August, leading to massive layoffs.
The FIRs registered in Bengaluru and other locations alleged that the platforms manipulated game outcomes, enabled player collusion, restricted user withdrawals, and lacked transparency in gaming practices. One complainant reportedly claimed losses of more than Rs 3 crore due to systematic fraud on the platform.
Per a PTI report, some FIRs are linked to allegations about suicides by users who lost money on the platforms. Based on material gathered during the searches and the investigation, the ED concluded that the founders were prima facie involved in generating and laundering proceeds of crime through online betting operations.
What has happened so far?
The founders have been arrested under section 19 of the PMLA. Singh and Raj were arrested in Delhi-NCR, after which the ED obtained a transit remand to produce them before a Bengaluru court. Taneja was arrested in Bengaluru and has already been presented before the jurisdictional court there.
Per CNBC TV-18, which was first to report the developments, the ED conducted raids on Thursday at 17 locations connected to Gameskraft group companies, directors, founders, and employees in Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, and elsewhere. During the searches, officials apparently seized incriminating documents, mobile phones, laptops, electronic devices, and large volumes of data.
Is this related to the November 2025 money laundering case?
The latest probe is separate from an earlier ED investigation conducted last November.
In that case, the agency froze assets worth about Rs 523 crore linked to Gameskraft and another online gaming platform, WinZO.
The agency had conducted searches in Delhi, Bengaluru, and Gurugram against group companies Nirdesa Networks Pvt Ltd, Gameskraft Technologies, and WinZO Games, along with their promoters, alleging that the firms continued to hold customer funds instead of refunding the same after the ban, and for scamming customers out of funds with bot-driven gameplay while they believed they were playing with real people.
The ED froze about Rs 505 crore held by WinZO in the form of bonds, fixed deposits, and mutual funds. As for Gameskraft, the agency alleged that more than Rs 30 crore remained in escrow accounts without being returned to users, and froze eight escrow accounts containing Rs 18.57 crore as alleged proceeds of crime.
Has Gameskraft commented on the situation?
Not yet.
Here is what we know so far:
What is the matter about?
The case stems from multiple FIRs for cheating and fraud worth Rs 1,000 crore linked to the company’s real-money gaming (RMG) platforms, according to a CNBC TV-18 report.
Founded in June 2017, the Bengaluru-based startup operated a suite of RMG platforms, including RummyCulture, RummyTime, and Pocket52. Per Entrackr, Gameskraft’s revenue from operations grew to Rs 3,475 crore in FY24 from Rs 2,673 crore in FY23. The company, however, discontinued operations following a government ban on RMG platforms last August, leading to massive layoffs.
The FIRs registered in Bengaluru and other locations alleged that the platforms manipulated game outcomes, enabled player collusion, restricted user withdrawals, and lacked transparency in gaming practices. One complainant reportedly claimed losses of more than Rs 3 crore due to systematic fraud on the platform.
Per a PTI report, some FIRs are linked to allegations about suicides by users who lost money on the platforms. Based on material gathered during the searches and the investigation, the ED concluded that the founders were prima facie involved in generating and laundering proceeds of crime through online betting operations.
What has happened so far?
The founders have been arrested under section 19 of the PMLA. Singh and Raj were arrested in Delhi-NCR, after which the ED obtained a transit remand to produce them before a Bengaluru court. Taneja was arrested in Bengaluru and has already been presented before the jurisdictional court there.
Per CNBC TV-18, which was first to report the developments, the ED conducted raids on Thursday at 17 locations connected to Gameskraft group companies, directors, founders, and employees in Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, and elsewhere. During the searches, officials apparently seized incriminating documents, mobile phones, laptops, electronic devices, and large volumes of data.
Is this related to the November 2025 money laundering case?
The latest probe is separate from an earlier ED investigation conducted last November.
In that case, the agency froze assets worth about Rs 523 crore linked to Gameskraft and another online gaming platform, WinZO.
The agency had conducted searches in Delhi, Bengaluru, and Gurugram against group companies Nirdesa Networks Pvt Ltd, Gameskraft Technologies, and WinZO Games, along with their promoters, alleging that the firms continued to hold customer funds instead of refunding the same after the ban, and for scamming customers out of funds with bot-driven gameplay while they believed they were playing with real people.
The ED froze about Rs 505 crore held by WinZO in the form of bonds, fixed deposits, and mutual funds. As for Gameskraft, the agency alleged that more than Rs 30 crore remained in escrow accounts without being returned to users, and froze eight escrow accounts containing Rs 18.57 crore as alleged proceeds of crime.
Has Gameskraft commented on the situation?
Not yet.
