Archive · 15 Jan 2026
Karnataka High Court Extends Protection to WinZO Co-Founder
The Karnataka High Court has given temporary protection to Saumya Rathore, a co-founder of WinZO Games, an online gaming company.
This protection means the Enforcement Directorate (ED) cannot take any action against her until January 23.
The court is looking into whether the ED has the right to investigate WinZO and its executives from Bengaluru.
The ED has accused WinZO of unfair practices in online gaming, such as not being transparent about who players are competing against and restricting customer withdrawals.
The ED has also frozen over Rs 505 crore of WinZO's money.
WinZO denies all these allegations and is fighting the charges in court.
Karnataka High Court extended interim protection to Saumya Rathore, co-founder of WinZO Games, restraining the ED from taking coercive action.
The protection is in place until the final hearing on January 23, 2026.
Rathore challenged the ED's authority to investigate WinZO and its executives from Bengaluru.
The ED has accused WinZO of unfair practices in real-money gaming and frozen proceeds of crime exceeding Rs 505 crore.
WinZO denies all allegations and is contesting both the substance of the charges and the jurisdiction of the ED's proceedings.
- Who
- Saumya Rathore, co-founder and director of WinZO Games
- What
- Karnataka High Court extended interim protection, restraining ED from taking coercive action
- When
- Protection extended until January 23
- Where
- Karnataka High Court, Bengaluru
- Why
- To challenge the jurisdiction of the ED's probe and the validity of the ECIR and remand orders
- Co-Founder Protected
- Saumya Rathore
- Company
- WinZO Games
- Agency Involved
- Enforcement Directorate (ED)
- Protection Extended Until
- January 23
- Allegations Against WinZO
- Cheating, impersonation, blocking customer accounts, misuse of identity documents
- Proceeds of Crime Frozen
- Rs 505 crore
- Jurisdiction Under Challenge
- Bengaluru High Court