Paytm returns to Play Store after suspension over violating Google policies

Vijay Shekhar Sharma says suspension was over cashback offer

Digital payments app Paytm run returned to Google’s Play Store after being yanked off for allegedly violating gambling policies, said the company's founder on Friday.

"We launched a UPI CashBack campaign this morning. Our app got suspended by Google for this,” said Vijay Shekhar Sharma on Twitter.

Sharma said the company has removed scratch cards that offered the cashbacks to comply with Google's policies.

"(Platforms like Google) are dominating platforms and with power comes responsibility. I believe that they should be responsible for this country's growth and startup ecosystem...India's ecosystem needs support, not stifling of innovation," he told news channel CNBC-TV18, according to news agency PTI.

A Paytm spokesperson said the company had 'Paytm Cricket League' on its consumer app was legitimate. "The game allows users to get player stickers after each transaction, collect them and get Paytm Cashback. Cashback is legal in India and we strictly follow all rules and laws of the land.

"Unfortunately, Google believes this to be a violation of its policies and has unlisted the Paytm Android app from the Play Store," the spokesperson told PTI.

Google removed the app from its Android store, citing violations of its gambling policy by the fintech unicorn, which is backed by SoftBank, Alibaba and Berkshire Hathaway among others, reported Reuters.

“This includes if an app leads consumers to an external website that allows them to participate in paid tournaments to win real money or cash prizes,” said Alphabet Inc’s Google, in the blog post. “It is a violation of our policies.”

The blog post did not name Paytm, but Google separately confirmed the removal for policy violations.

(With inputs from PTI and Reuters.)