“Pune Cop’s ₹1.5 Crore Dream11 Win Sparks Inquiry and Legal Debate”
A Pune police officer is under investigation after winning ₹1.5 crore on Dream11, a fantasy gaming platform. The officer plans to use the money for his home loan and his children’s education, but questions arise about the legality of his participation while employed in the police force.
Sub Inspector Somnath Zende of the Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissionerate finds himself embroiled in controversy after a significant windfall of ₹1.5 crore on the popular online fantasy gaming platform, Dream11. While he initially rejoiced at his good fortune, an inquiry is now being conducted to determine whether his participation in such games while serving as a police officer was legal.
Zende, in the wake of his winnings, had expressed his intentions for the money. “With the profit of ₹1.5 crore, I thought I would not get any money, but yesterday on a transaction of ₹2 lakh, they deducted ₹60,000 from it. One lakh forty thousand rupees came into my account,” he stated. He revealed plans to use the money to pay off his home loan and invest the remaining half in fixed deposits, generating interest to fund his children’s education.
However, the legality of his participation in online gaming platforms as a serving police officer is now in question. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Satish Maane voiced the concerns, saying, “Can one participate in such online games while working in the police department? Does this follow the rules? Is this game legal? Can one talk in the media about the money received in this way? Is all this within the rules. All this will be investigated. The investigation has been given to DCP Swapna Gore, and appropriate action will be taken after a report is submitted.”
Dream11, India’s pioneering online fantasy gaming platform, has faced legal challenges in the past due to the perceived similarities between fantasy gaming and gambling. The company, established in 2008 and boasting a user base of over 110 million, has defended its position by stating that the bets placed on its platform are games of skill, not constituting gambling or betting.
Himanshu Shekhar, a Supreme Court lawyer, supported Dream11’s stance, saying, “Fantasy leagues have been recognized by the courts in our country; they also come under the purview of GST and tax. So there is no doubt left about their legality. There were three-four such cases which originated from different High Courts and were later rejected by the Supreme Court. So it is settled that fantasy games are games of skill, and games of skill are legal in our country. And there is no restriction as such.”
As the inquiry unfolds, Sub Inspector Zende will await the outcome, and the legal status of gaming platforms like Dream11 will continue to be debated in the public eye.
Sources By Agencies
About The Author
