In what could become a landmark case for digital privacy in India, Santosh Torane, a Maharashtra-based citizen, has launched serious legal action against Krafton India Pvt. Ltd., the company behind the wildly popular mobile game Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI). Based on documents obtained by TalkEsport, this case reveals a disturbing series of events involving alleged allegations of data breaches, contract violations, and unauthorized sharing – raising new questions about how tech companies handle user information.
FIR Alleges Data Sale and Contract Breach by Krafton India
According to the FIR (No. 0474/2024) filed at Akluj Police Station on September 5, 2024, Torane accuses Krafton India and four of its executives of violating an online service agreement made on August 2, 2021. The agreement allowed Torane to use Krafton’s game services under specific terms that included strict confidentiality clauses.
Exclusive: TalkEsport Secures Copy of FIR in Data Breach Case
Note: To protect the privacy of the individuals involved, names, addresses, and other crucial information have been redacted from the FIR.
The FIR alleges that Krafton violated these terms by improperly disclosing Torane’s personal information and monetizing it through unauthorized means. Specifically, the complainant claims that confidential data was leaked and shared with external parties, allegedly for a “sum of around ₹2,000 per subscriber”. The charges listed include criminal conspiracy (IPC 120-B), cheating (IPC 420), and violations under Sections 72, 72A, and 85 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Court Order Demands Police Investigation After Initial Inaction
In a detailed court order dated August 28, 2024, the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Malshiras, directed Akluj police to investigate the complaint under Section 156(3) of CrPC. This came after Torane submitted proof that he had earlier sent the same complaint by post to both the Akluj Police Station and the Superintendent of Police, Solapur, on November 3 and 6, 2023 respectively, with no response from authorities.
The Magistrate observed that the case appeared serious, and a police-led investigation was essential to uncover the truth and gather evidence.
Krafton Counters with High Court Writ Petitions
In response, Krafton India filed two writ petitions (Nos. 4806 and 5342/2024) in the Bombay High Court, challenging the FIR and seeking to stop the investigation. In court documents reviewed by TalkEsport, Krafton’s legal team—headed by senior advocates from Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co.—argued for relief against the allegations, contesting the legal proceedings.
The High Court bench, consisting of Justice Sarang V. Kotwal and Justice Dr. Neela Gokhale, has clubbed the petitions and issued notices to respondents. The matter is now scheduled for the next hearing on April 15, 2025, with all ad-interim orders extended until then.
A Case That Could Change Digital Policy
The core issue here isn’t just contractual violation. It’s data protection and corporate accountability. With user privacy becoming a growing concern in India, especially in tech and gaming sectors, this case could trigger more stringent data regulation and oversight.
As per the court filings and FIR documents obtained by TalkEsport, this case represents a rare public challenge to a major gaming corporation on the grounds of data misuse and ethical malpractice. It remains to be seen whether the FIR holds substantial merit or if the Bombay High Court will decide to quash it.
Krafton Issues Statement
In response to the FIR, Krafton has denied any wrongdoing. The company released a statement saying, “At KRAFTON, the protection of personal data is of utmost importance to us, and we are committed to upholding the highest standards of data security. As the matter is currently sub judice, we believe it is best to wait for the legal process to conclude, after which we will provide any necessary clarifications.”
The case will be presided over by Justices Sarang V. Kotwal and Dr. Neela Gokhale, who have consolidated the related petitions for a unified hearing.
Note: We reached out to Krafton officials and their PR representatives for an official statement prior to publishing this article. However, we have not received a response at the time of writing. This story will be updated as soon as an official statement is provided. Stay tuned to TalkEsport for more exclusive updates as the case unfolds.