Haryana Consumer Court Imposes Rs. 2 Lakhs Damages on Dream11, Holds it Guilty of Malpractice
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum of Kaithal, Haryana held online fantasy sports website Dream11 liable for malpractice and imposed damages of Rs. 2 lakhs on it for non-fulfillment of its commitment of giving free contest tickets to the winner of the consumer.
The Kaithal Consumer forum passed the order on 25th February, 2020 while disposing a consumer complaint filed by one Balinder Rapria, resident of Balu village in Kaithal, who won a fantasy league contest of the Carribean Premier League T20 on Dream11.com in 2018.
The contest entailed Rapria and one of his family member/friend to an all expense paid trip to watch the ICC Women’s World T20 final in Antigua and Barbuda in November, 2018.
However, it was alleged by the complainant Rapria that Dream11 failed to comply with the terms and conditions of the contest and did not provide the free all expenses trip as promised.
Dream11 however challenged the averment and stated that it was ready and willing to provide the all expenses trip, but the visa had to be procured by the complainant, although the company was ready to provide assistance with respect to the same and that there were calls and discussions with the complainant regarding the same.
It also stated that it had offered an all expenses trip to the complainant at an alternate venue in Australia in lieu of the trip to Antigua.
The Consumer Forum however, after going through email records noted that there was no email record or correspondence by Dream11 stating that the complainant was bound to obtain the visa on his own and in fact, the fantasy sports company apologised in emails to the complainant regarding its guilt and offered a trip to an upcoming match in another country.
Ruling that the failure to fulfill the trip amounted to deficiency of service and malpractice under Section 2 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, the 3-member bench of the district consumer forum directed Dream11 to pay Rs. 2 lakhs to the complainant as damages along with 9% interest from the day of filing of complaint and Rs. 5,000/- as litigation costs.
