A major controversy has emerged over the ownership and control of T-Wallet App, the official digital payment platform of Telangana. The Electronic Service Delivery (ESD) wing of the state’s information technology department has filed a criminal complaint against a private company, alleging breach of contract and refusal to hand over access to the application despite the expiry of their agreement.
The Hyderabad Central Crime Station (CCS) registered a criminal case on Wednesday against Transaction Analysts India Pvt Ltd (TAIPL) and others. The charges include Sections 316(2) for criminal breach of trust and 318(4) for cheating under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant provisions of the IT Act. The complaint raises serious concerns about the safety of 16 lakh registered users’ data and Rs 14 crore in funds.
The T-Wallet platform was launched in 2017 by the Telangana government as a state-owned digital payment ecosystem. The platform was designed to facilitate cashless transactions and deliver citizen-centric services across the state. TAIPL had initially secured the contract to develop and maintain the application, with the maintenance agreement being periodically renewed in their favour.
In October 2024, the government gave administrative approval and constituted a committee to oversee a fresh tender process. Following technical and financial evaluation in 2025, Purview India Consulting and Services LLP was declared the successful bidder for the new contract. However, problems arose when the previous contractor allegedly refused to cooperate with the transition process.
According to the ESD complaint, TAIPL has failed to hand over critical user data, infrastructure components, and the Rs 14 crore balance. The agreement clearly stipulated that the company was responsible for maintaining secure systems and mandatorily transferring all data, source code, and digital assets to ESD or its authorized agency upon contract expiry or termination, which was scheduled for May 31, 2025.
ESD officials stated they initiated communications with TAIPL well before the contract expiry for smooth transition and handover. Through multiple emails, discussions and official letters, the company was directed to transfer all user data, transaction records, wallet balances, source code and system credentials. A final show-cause notice was served on November 12, 2025, warning about penalties and blacklisting for non-compliance.
In response to the notice, TAIPL sent a letter dated November 19, 2025, taking what officials described as a hostile stand. The company allegedly denied the ownership and custodianship of ESD over the T-Wallet ecosystem and claimed exclusive proprietary rights over the government-owned platform. ESD officials alleged this amounts to an unlawful attempt to appropriate public digital infrastructure.
ESD officials have expressed concerns that the private company might migrate user data and wallet balances from T-Wallet to its privately owned TA One App, prompting them to seek police intervention. The complaint stated that the company has wilfully failed to comply with lawful directions despite being entrusted with critical responsibilities under strict contractual and statutory obligations.
