A bench comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice Krishna S Dixit is hearing the petitions. Senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Mukul Rohatgi appeared for petitioners, and argued the law was not sustainable.
The Karnataka government, on October 5, notified the law banning betting and wagering in online games after Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot gave his assent. The Karnataka Legislature had passed amendments to the Karnataka Police Act, 1963 during its recent sitting.
The state government has taken the stand before the court that its amendments do not ban online “games of chance” or “game of skill”, they restrain people from risking money “on the happening of an uncertain event and online platforms are prohibited from inducing gullible public with lure of unattainable prizes.”
Dream11 co-founders Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth, who were named in an FIR registered by the Annapoorneshwarinagar Police in October, however enjoy protection from any coercive action, including arrest, by the Bengaluru Police as per a relief granted by the high court.
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