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A simmering dispute over the ownership and deployment of India’s DigiYatra platform escalated this week, with Hyderabad-based Data Evolve Solutions alleging in the Delhi High Court that global consultancy KPMG illegally accessed its premises and cloned the DigiYatra application. The claim adds a new twist to a long-running tussle between Data Evolve and the Digi Yatra Foundation (DYF) over intellectual property and control of the government-backed digital travel system.
During a hearing on 27 November, Data Evolve told the court that KPMG personnel made an unauthorised visit to its Hyderabad office, copied the application, and subsequently rolled it out across 28 airports — despite the original agreement permitting deployment at only four locations. The company has sought the court’s permission to introduce this and several related issues into the ongoing trial, arguing that the expanded rollout demonstrates unauthorised use of its technology.
A Contract Dispute Turns into a Governance Flashpoint
The dispute stems from a 2021 Minimum Viable Product Agreement between Data Evolve and DYF, under which the foundation claims ownership of the DigiYatra Central Ecosystem, including derivative software and modifications. Data Evolve counters that it developed core components of the system in 2020 — a year before the formal agreement — and that DYF withheld payments while continuing to rely on its technology.
The allegations against KPMG introduce questions over procedural integrity and deployment governance. Although KPMG had been engaged as an advisor, Data Evolve claims the consultancy exceeded its remit by accessing proprietary systems without consent. If true, this raises significant concerns about oversight and data security in a platform designed to process sensitive passenger identities and biometrics.
Court Scrutinises New Allegations
Justice Subramonium Prasad, who is overseeing the matter, questioned whether Data Evolve’s proposed additional issues — including the KPMG visit, software cloning, and expanded deployment — naturally arise from the original pleadings. The court indicated that issues can only be added if they stem logically from the plaint and corresponding denials.
DYF has been granted time until 10 December to respond. The foundation has filed its own application seeking the inclusion of additional issues, signalling a prolonged legal confrontation before the substantive questions of IP ownership and deployment rights can be resolved.
Broader Stakes for India’s Digital Infrastructure
Beyond the legal battlefield, the case raises larger concerns around governance of national digital infrastructure. DigiYatra, which uses biometric authentication to streamline air travel, is already operational at several airports and is expected to expand nationwide. The revelation that an allegedly cloned version of the app may be running at 28 airports has heightened scrutiny over software provenance, data protection, and regulatory oversight.
The Delhi High Court earlier issued an interim injunction preventing Data Evolve from accessing or transferring DigiYatra passenger data as the ownership dispute unfolded. It also appointed a technical team to supervise the handover of code repositories and credentials, ensuring the platform remains functional even as the trial continues.
A Case to Watch
As allegations expand and new parties are drawn into the conflict, the outcome of the case will shape not only the future of DigiYatra but also set important precedents for public-private digital collaborations in India. With biometric data, national infrastructure, and competing claims over code ownership at stake, the DigiYatra controversy is poised to become one of the most closely watched technology disputes of the year.
During a hearing on 27 November, Data Evolve told the court that KPMG personnel made an unauthorised visit to its Hyderabad office, copied the application, and subsequently rolled it out across 28 airports — despite the original agreement permitting deployment at only four locations. The company has sought the court’s permission to introduce this and several related issues into the ongoing trial, arguing that the expanded rollout demonstrates unauthorised use of its technology.
A Contract Dispute Turns into a Governance Flashpoint
The dispute stems from a 2021 Minimum Viable Product Agreement between Data Evolve and DYF, under which the foundation claims ownership of the DigiYatra Central Ecosystem, including derivative software and modifications. Data Evolve counters that it developed core components of the system in 2020 — a year before the formal agreement — and that DYF withheld payments while continuing to rely on its technology.
The allegations against KPMG introduce questions over procedural integrity and deployment governance. Although KPMG had been engaged as an advisor, Data Evolve claims the consultancy exceeded its remit by accessing proprietary systems without consent. If true, this raises significant concerns about oversight and data security in a platform designed to process sensitive passenger identities and biometrics.
Court Scrutinises New Allegations
Justice Subramonium Prasad, who is overseeing the matter, questioned whether Data Evolve’s proposed additional issues — including the KPMG visit, software cloning, and expanded deployment — naturally arise from the original pleadings. The court indicated that issues can only be added if they stem logically from the plaint and corresponding denials.
DYF has been granted time until 10 December to respond. The foundation has filed its own application seeking the inclusion of additional issues, signalling a prolonged legal confrontation before the substantive questions of IP ownership and deployment rights can be resolved.
Broader Stakes for India’s Digital Infrastructure
Beyond the legal battlefield, the case raises larger concerns around governance of national digital infrastructure. DigiYatra, which uses biometric authentication to streamline air travel, is already operational at several airports and is expected to expand nationwide. The revelation that an allegedly cloned version of the app may be running at 28 airports has heightened scrutiny over software provenance, data protection, and regulatory oversight.
The Delhi High Court earlier issued an interim injunction preventing Data Evolve from accessing or transferring DigiYatra passenger data as the ownership dispute unfolded. It also appointed a technical team to supervise the handover of code repositories and credentials, ensuring the platform remains functional even as the trial continues.
A Case to Watch
As allegations expand and new parties are drawn into the conflict, the outcome of the case will shape not only the future of DigiYatra but also set important precedents for public-private digital collaborations in India. With biometric data, national infrastructure, and competing claims over code ownership at stake, the DigiYatra controversy is poised to become one of the most closely watched technology disputes of the year.
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