Bombay High Court: In a Public Interest Litigation (‘PIL’) filed by a social worker against the State of Maharashtra, Google India Pvt. Ltd (‘Google’), Junglee Rummy, Rummy Circle to challenge the promotion/advertising and running of online gambling apps and to implead Sachin Tendulkar, Shahrukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Ajay Devgan, Annu Kapoor, Shakti Kapoor, A23 Games, First Games Technology Pvt. Ltd., and Zupee App as respondents, a Division Bench of Devendra Kumar Upadhyay, CJ and M.M. Sathaye, J. asked the respondents to file a short affidavit to address the maintainability of the petition and gave one week thereafter to the petitioner to file a rejoinder affidavit.
Background
The petitioner, a social worker, submitted that Sachin Tendulkar, Shahrukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Ajay Devgan, Annu Kapoor, and Shakti Kapoor were the celebrities who had been promoting /advertising various online gambling apps such as Junglee Rummy, Rummy Circle, A23 App, First Games App, and Zupee App.
The petitioner contended that the above-mentioned celebrities had induced the people to play such online gambling games by which they lost their money and were committing suicides because of being frustrated.
Analysis and Decision
The Court perused the plea made by the petitioner and asked the respondents to file a short affidavit within a week wherein the issue of maintainability is discussed.
The Court also asked the respondents to also mention in the short affidavit as to how online rummy was a game of skill and not a game of chance.
The matter has been further listed on 16-10-2024.
[Ganesh Ranu Nanaware v. State of Maharashtra, 2024 SCC OnLine Bom 3072, Decided on 25-09-2024]
Advocates who appeared in this case:
For Petitioner — Advocate Vijay R. Garad
For Respondent — Sr. Advocate Naushad Engineer, Advocate Yohaann Limathwala, Fatema Kachwalla, Advocate Dheeraj Nair, Advocate Vishrutji Saini, Advocate Aditi Deshpande, Sr. Advocate Venkatesh Dhond, Advocate Akhil Anand, Advocate Sumit Tiwari, Sr. Advocate Darius Khambata, Advocate Himanshu Vij, Advocate Sumit Tiwari, Advocate Parag Khandhar, Advocate Anaheeta Verma
