The Pune Cop Who Won Rs 1.5 Crore on Fantasy Gaming App: Inquiry on Whether He Gambled
Pune: A Sub Inspector from the Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissionerate, Somnath Zende, found himself in a controversial situation after winning Rs 1.5 crore on the popular online fantasy gaming platform, Dream11. However, his joy was short-lived as he now faces an inquiry into whether he violated any rules by participating in such a game while actively employed in the police service.
Mr. Zende expressed his surprise at receiving the money in his account and shared, “With the profit of Rs 1.5 crore, I thought I would not get any money but yesterday on a transaction of Rs 2 lakh, they deducted Rs 60,000 from it. One lakh forty thousand rupees came into my account.”
Despite the inquiry, the cop plans to use the money to pay off his home loan. He also intends to invest the remaining half in fixed deposits and utilize the interest earned to fund his children’s education.
The Pimpri Chinchwad Assistant Commissioner of Police, Satish Maane, stated, “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.” The questions raised include whether participation in online games is permissible while being employed in the police department and whether such games adhere to legal regulations.
Dream11, India’s first gaming startup valued over $1 billion, offers a fantasy gaming platform for various sports. The company has faced legal challenges in the past due to its similarities to gambling. However, it claims that bets placed on its platform qualify as games of skill and not gambling.
Himanshu Shekhar, a Supreme Court lawyer, supports the legality of fantasy gaming, stating, “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.”
While the company has a user base of over 110 million and fantasy games have been deemed legal by the courts, the specific circumstances involving a police officer’s involvement will require further investigation. For now, Mr. Zende will await the results of the inquiry.