Defy-1Verse
3/17/2026, 6:35:33 PM

7 months of silence: withheld salaries, disabled Keka access, and no answers

I am sharing this publicly because I have now run out of private avenues. What follows is not a complaint written in anger but a factual account of what has been happening, and what continues to go unaddressed.

My name is Deepika Patil. I have over 10 years of professional experience and I joined OneVerse as a Senior Operations Manager in September 2024 - at the time of the merger, when OneVerse acquired the poker platforms.

I am sharing this publicly because I have now run out of private avenues. What follows is not a complaint written in anger but a factual account of what has been happening, and what continues to go unaddressed.

Since August 2025, my salary has not been disbursed. Not partially. Not delayed by a few weeks. Not at all. It has now been over seven months, and in that time, the company has provided no clarification, no communication, and no defined timeline for resolution.

Since the passing of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, there has been complete silence from the management and HR. For employees still waiting, still hoping for a straight answer, this prolonged silence has been devastating as it has placed all of us in a highly uncertain and financially distressing position.

I have been cooperative, understanding, and patient throughout. But there is a point at which patience stops being a virtue and starts being a liability. I have reached that point. The following matters remain unresolved and require urgent attention:

  • Salaries unpaid since August 2025 - No salaries have been disbursed since August 2025. This extended delay has caused significant financial hardship, stress, anxiety and instability. Managing EMIs, rent, and other financial commitments has become increasingly difficult.

  • Keka access revoked without prior notice - On 1st November, access to the Keka HR platform was disabled. No prior notice, no explanation. Leaving no access to payslips, or any documents. This sudden removal of access without explanation is deeply concerning.

  • Pending Relieving & Experience Letters - The employment documents continue to remain unissued without explanation. Without them, moving forward professionally is blocked.

  • TDS Deductions not deposited yet - Tax deductions were made from salaries that were never paid. These amounts have not been deposited, leaving employees in potential tax liability for money they never received.

  • Repeated delays with no accountability - We were given "verbal assurances" repeatedly that "updates would be shared soon", with new dates pushed each time. Yet, nothing concrete has been provided to date.

Why am I writing this here?
This situation has affected me financially, professionally, and mentally. I have held on, and waited in good faith. But the persistent lack of transparency and the extended silence are no longer sustainable.

I am not the only one. There are many others like me who are going through the same thing. Multiple people. Same company, same silence, same unanswered emails, same missing documents. This is not an isolated case or an administrative oversight. It is a pattern affecting an entire group of people who showed up, did their jobs, and are now being ignored. Each one of us is rightfully entitled to timely payment for the work performed, as well as issuance of relieving and experience letters. These are basic fundamental obligations.

I am now speaking up publicly because silence from those of us affected only makes it easier for this to continue unchallenged.

What I have already done:

I have not stayed silent internally. I have sent multiple formal emails to HR and management on multiple occasions, placing my concerns on record. This public post is not a first resort - it is what comes after every private channel has failed to produce a response.

The deactivation/disabling of all official OneVerse email IDs - including the Resolution Team's - has made it impossible to pursue this matter through any internal channel. 

I am now left with no choice but to pursue this through every external avenue available, and to ensure that this is publicly documented so that there is a clear record that these issues were raised, reported, and ignored, and so that others in a similar position know they are not alone and that speaking up is an option.

So, if you have experienced this too, speak up and share your story. The more visible this becomes, the harder it is to ignore.

Comments

Comments may be held for moderation before appearing publicly.

Anonymous
3/17/2026, 7:18:46 PM
"Deepika, thank you for having the courage to speak up. I am also one of the employees affected by this, and my experience mirrors yours exactly. The silence from OneVerse management since the acquisition and the subsequent Gaming Bill has been deafening. Like you, I have been left without salary since August 2025, and having my Keka access revoked without notice felt like a deliberate attempt to erase our records and professional history. It is not just about the money—which has caused immense financial strain regarding rent and EMIs—it is about the total lack of basic professional accountability. Withholding relieving letters and experience certificates effectively holds our careers hostage. We performed our duties in good faith, yet we are being met with disabled email IDs and 'verbal assurances' that never materialize. I stand with you in demanding transparency and the immediate settlement of our dues and documents. This is not an internal glitch; it is a systemic failure that needs to be addressed publicly."
Raj Kumar
3/17/2026, 7:24:22 PM
"I want to highlight two of the most egregious aspects of this situation that you mentioned: the TDS negligence and the deceptive 'Resolution Team.' It is unacceptable that TDS was deducted from salaries that were never even disbursed, and more importantly, that these funds have not been deposited with the government. This leaves us as employees in a precarious position with the Tax Department, facing potential liabilities for income we never actually saw. This isn't just a 'delay'; it is a serious breach of statutory compliance. Furthermore, the 'Resolution Team' formed by OneVerse has proven to be nothing more than a stalling tactic. We were repeatedly told that this team was working toward a solution, but it is now clear that their primary function was to buy time and misguide us with vague, verbal assurances. To now find that even the official email IDs for this 'Resolution' group have been deactivated is the ultimate sign of bad faith. Forming a team specifically to manage employee concerns and then cutting off all communication is a deliberate act of misinformation. We are not just asking for our salaries; we are demanding the professional and legal closure we are entitled to by law."
Ahmed
3/18/2026, 5:05:31 AM
I am affected
zattari@gmail.com
3/18/2026, 5:24:19 AM
zattari@gmail.com
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