New Delhi: Krafton India, the publisher of the hit mobile game Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), has reportedly been named in an FIR over allegations of data privacy violations and breach of contract.    

According to reports, the FIR (No. 0474/2024) was filed at Akluj Police Station in Maharashtra, accusing the company and four of its senior officials of unlawfully disclosing user data to third parties in violation of a 2021 agreement. It was alleged that the data was monetised at a rate of Rs 2,000 per user, a claim that, if proven, could have major implications given BGMI’s widespread user base across Android and iOS platforms.

The FIR was reportedly lodged on September 5, 2024, following a directive from the court under Section 156(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code, after earlier complaints were said to have been overlooked. The matter is scheduled to come up for hearing in the Bombay High Court on April 15, 2025.

The charges listed in the FIR are said to include criminal conspiracy (Section 120-B) and cheating (Section 420) under the Indian Penal Code, along with alleged violations of the Information Technology Act, 2000—particularly Sections 72, 72A and 85, which relate to unauthorised data disclosure and privacy breaches.

In response, Krafton India is reported to have filed two writ petitions (Nos. 4806 and 5342/2024) in the Bombay High Court, challenging both the contents and procedural aspects of the FIR. The company is said to be represented by senior advocates from Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and Co.

Sources indicated that Justices Sarang V Kotwal and Dr Neela Gokhale, who are hearing the matter, have consolidated the two petitions and issued notices to the parties concerned. Interim relief granted earlier is understood to have been extended until the next court date.

The case has surfaced at a time when Krafton has been deepening its investments in India’s gaming sector and presenting itself as a long-term player in the market.