WinZO Co-Founder Saumya Singh Rathore Arrested in Bengaluru Over Money Laundering Allegations
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In a major crackdown, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Saumya Singh Rathore, co-founder of online gaming platform WinZO, in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Rathore was taken into custody after being questioned in connection with a money laundering case. The ED had last week raided the premises of WinZO and another gaming company, Gamezkraft, and their promoters under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). According to the ED, WinZO allegedly held ₹43 crore of gamers' funds, which should have been refunded after the Indian government banned real-money gaming. The agency also froze bonds, fixed deposits, and mutual funds worth ₹505 crore possessed by WinZO Games. Rathore, along with her colleague Paavan Nanda, co-founded WinZO in 2017. Nanda had previously founded ZO Rooms, an Indian hotel brand, where Rathore worked as the chief of staff. The ED has accused WinZO of engaging in "criminal activities and unscrupulous practices" by making customers play with algorithms without their knowledge. WinZO's spokesperson responded to the allegations, stating that fairness and transparency are core to their platform's design and operation. They assured that their focus remains on protecting users and ensuring a secure experience. The company claims to be fully compliant with all applicable laws. Rathore was produced before a local court in Bengaluru and was sent to one-day custody. The ED's actions have sparked concerns about the online gaming industry's regulatory environment and the need for greater transparency and accountability.
