Dream11 founders Bhavit Sheth & Harsh Jain quashing petition came up for hearing in Karnataka High Court today. An FIR was lodged last month against the fantasy gaming leader and its founders with the Bengaluru city police for operating the fantasy platform in contravention with the Karnataka Police Act, 1963. The amended law came into effect on October 5. Dream11 continued to operate till the noon of October 10.

Justice Sreenivas Harish Kumar noted that the investigation should continue in the matter. Dream11 counsel submitted that there is a Supreme Court judgment on the issue and amendments to the Karnataka Police Act will not apply to them. The judge responded that he will apply the Supreme Court judgment if it is applicable to them after hearing the matter and arguments.

The government pleader noted that Advocate General would like to make submissions and the state wanted to file a statement of objections. The court extended the interim order (protection against arrest but investigation to continue) till the next date. The matter was last heard on 28 October when the court granted interim protection to the founders.

Another set of writ petitions challenging the legal validity of the Karnataka gaming law amendment are pending before the bench of Justice Krishna S. Dixit. Senior Advocate Arvind P. Datar appeared for the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), the Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for GamesKraft. Gaming unicorn MPL was represented by Senior Advocate DLN Rao while Advocate General Prabhulinga Navadgi appeared for the state. This case was last heard on 28 October and will now be heard on November 11.