Cyber Crime Police in Hyderabad made a case on Paytm and One97 Communications, who allegedly let illegal gambling apps spread by unauthorised APK files. A First Information Report (FIR) was signed on July 24. It blames the fintech company for breaking the Information Technology Act rules and the Telangana Gaming Act by pushing unregulated gambling apps like MPL Cards and MPL Rummy. A city advocate filed the complaint, saying Paytm’s digital setup was used for APK files that do not appear on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. The FIR says One97 Communications even pushed these downloads on June 28, 2025, so unauthorised gaming activities grew without needed regulatory approvals.

FIR Alleges Breach of Tech and Gaming Laws

After this complaint, police used Section 66 and Section 43 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (with 2008 changes), which stop unauthorised use of computer systems and misuse of digital networks. Section 3A of the Telangana Gaming Act was used to cover the advertising of illegal online betting platforms too. Right now, police check backend data logs, server access points, and distribution networks to measure the scale of the described law breaks. Cybercrime teams also track where the APK files started, and they study user engagement statistics tied to those files.

Experts Raise Alarm over Cybersecurity Threats

Cybersecurity specialists say making such illegal apps available with APKs is dangerous. People downloading APKs from unknown places risk problems like information theft, spyware, and malware worries. A senior cybersecurity analyst explained that these apps often skip checks required by proper stores, and attackers can add malicious code. Mental and financial health threats from online gambling are high, and people with vulnerabilities face bigger risks, the analyst also said.

The ongoing court process started a big discussion about digital platforms and how they must check third-party content with care. Some critics now say fintech companies must notice and act if their platforms are used for illegal or risky content. Police from Hyderabad Cyber Crime explained they will take the next legal steps after digital forensic reports appear, which look at payment trails and user data access records.