Queency Jain –
The Bombay High Court sought response of Maharashtra government after a plea seeking to declare Ludo as a game of gambling has been filed in the Court.
The petition contends to register an FIR against Cashgrail Pvt Ltd, owner of mobile application Ludo Supreme, and to declare the game as illegal for not being a game of skill but rather a game of chance.
Keshav Ramey Muley, a senior office bearer of political party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena filed the petition contending that a 3 year old child winning the game cannot be discounted and thus the provisions of Maharashtra Prevention of Gambling Act applies to the game.
Although Muley approached the Police station before filing the petition, yet the officials denied registering his complaint. Muley then went to Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) at Girgaon, Mumbai.
The ACMM rejected his petition and declared the game to be completely based on skill and not on chance, thereby stating that the provisions of MPG Act will not apply to the game.
Standing hopeful, Muley finally approached the High Court to declare the game as illegal contending that the game involves money in real time currency of value.
Muley further contended that rolling of dice is completely under the control of the application and thus it requires no skill but a chance of winning or losing the game.
The petition prays registration of complaint against the persons involved in the operation and management of the Ludo Supreme App and reconsideration of the criminal application filed by Muley by the Magistrate Court.
The response of the plea by the Maharashtra Government is to be submitted on 22 June.
