By: Geetanjali
Google Removed Anupam Mittal’s Shadi.com +9 Other from Play Store
Peeving some well known businesses of India, Google removed around 20 business apps from its Play store on Friday, March 1,2024. Before the removal of these companies Google posted a blog regarding the removal of these apps, stating that they are removing some well established companies for “non-payment of service fee” even though using the platform, they have failed to make payment.
However Google refrained from directly mentioning the name of the apps dismissed from play store. Yet, as per some reports apps by Info Edge including Naukri.com, 99.acres, other apps including some dating apps like Quack Quack, Truly Madly, Regional video streaming platforms like Altt Balaji Telefilms, Stage, Kuku FM which is a audio platform, and Matrimonial app including Bharat Matrimony and Shark Tanks Judge Anupam Mittal’s Shaddi.com are among the apps which have been removed from the Google’s Play Store.
| S.No | Delisted Apps List |
| 1. | Naukri.com |
| 2. | 99.acers |
| 3. | Quack Quack |
| 4. | Truly Madly |
| 5. | Altt Balaji Telefilms |
| 6. | Stage |
| 7. | Kuku FM |
| 8. | Bharat Matrimony |
| 9. | Shaddi.com |
After the removal of these apps people, especially mobile users won’t be able to download these apps from Google’s Play Store. This will also affect the user base of these apps as many of these apps might not be available on ios.
What do Business Owners have to say over this?
“It’s a dark day for Digital India Dream. These Big Techs have become the digital landlords of the digital ecosystem and want us to pay them ‘Lagaan’(rent). Hardly any business in India even makes 30% PAT, but they want to earn 30% of our revenue so they can keep getting bigger at the expense of our demise”, said Dating App Truly Madly’s CEO Murugavel Janakiraman.
Joining the argument Shark Tank India Judge, Founder and CEO of Shaddi.com posted on X. “Today is a dark day for the Indian Internet. Google has delisted major apps from its app store even though legal hearings are underway CCI & SC of India.Their false narratives & audacity show they have little regard for Make no mistake – this is the new Digital East India Co and this (Lagan) must be stopped!”.
Today is a dark day for India Internet. Google has delisted major apps from its app store even though legal hearings are underway @CCI_India & @indSupremeCourt Their false narratives & audacity show they have little regard for 🇮🇳 Make no mistake – this is the new Digital East…
— Anupam Mittal (@AnupamMittal) March 1, 2024
Lal Chand Bisu, Co-Founder and CEO posted on social networking site X, said, “ This is so unfair. Google is using a divide-and-rule strategy here. They are talking to some companies to settle for less Google tax. They have already done a secret deal with Spotify where Spotify is not paying any Google tax. Many big companies still do not comply with Google tax guidelines but have not been delisted”.
This is so unfair. Google is using a divide-and-rule strategy here. They are talking to some companies to settle for less Google tax. They have already done a secret deal with Spotify where Spotify is not paying any Google tax. Many big companies still do not comply with Google…
— Lal Chand Bisu (@lcbisu) March 2, 2024
Google in its defence said it has already chopped its service- fee after CCI (Competition Commission of India, which regulated fair trade practices in India) intervened on the in-app payment charged by Google’s Play Store which was in between 15% to 30%. Which has been reduced to 11% to 26%.
