Karnataka High Court Clears IIT Graduate of Railway Ticket Fraud Charges

The Karnataka High Court quashed criminal proceedings against IIT graduate Gaurav Dhake, who developed a software tool that reduced the time to book railway Tatkal tickets. The court ruled that Dhake's tool did not violate the Railways Act, thereby dismissing the charges against him.

The Karnataka High Court has dismissed criminal proceedings against IIT graduate and startup founder Gaurav Dhake. Dhake, who created a software tool to expedite railway Tatkal ticket bookings, was charged under Section 143 of the Railways Act for allegedly procuring and distributing tickets illegally.

Justice M Nagaprasanna ruled that Dhake's browser extension, which reduced the booking time from up to seven minutes to just 45 seconds, did not violate the Railways Act. Initially offered for free, the tool later required a fee to prevent misuse. Despite accusations of earning Rs 12 lakh from the tool, no evidence of illegal ticket activities was found.

The court deemed the charges an "abuse of process" and referenced a 2016 Kerala High Court judgment in a similar case. Dhake had argued that his tool was meant for public benefit and not for illegal activities, a position the court ultimately upheld.

(With inputs from agencies.)