EaseMyTrip's Chinese-links allegations against MakeMyTrip resurface from May; MMT rejects claims
Resurfacing a May 2025 move, EaseMyTrip raised concerns over MakeMyTrip's ownership and board links, alleging potential data-security risks in defence travel bookings. MakeMyTrip said it is an Indian, Nasdaq-listed company that complies with Indian laws and data-privacy requirements.
The development
EaseMyTrip renewed allegations on 15 May 2025 that MakeMyTrip’s Chinese-linked ownership and board influence create security risks for Indian Armed Forces ticket bookings. MakeMyTrip said it is an Indian company, Nasdaq-listed, and compliant with Indian laws and data-privacy frameworks.
The numbers
- 14 May
- May 14, 2025
- 25 years
- five out of ten
- 5 out of 10
- May 15, 2025
Why it matters to operators and investors
Any travel-platform partnership or acquisition should intensify diligence on beneficial ownership, board affiliations, data residency and exposure to government or defence-booking requirements.
What to watch next
- Any government ministry, defence procurement body, CERT-In or data-protection authority statement or inquiry
- MakeMyTrip disclosure on shareholder ownership, board affiliations, data hosting or audit certifications
- Legal notices, defamation filings, exchange disclosures or court proceedings
- Changes in public-sector or defence travel-booking vendor eligibility requirements
- Evidence of contract losses, enterprise booking migration or abnormal app-traffic and marketing-spend changes at either platform
- MakeMyTrip is likely to issue more detailed governance, ownership, data-storage and cybersecurity clarifications targeted at institutional customers.
- EaseMyTrip may amplify the allegations through media, policy outreach and positioning around domestic ownership and national-security-sensitive travel.
- Both companies may pursue legal notices or demand documentary substantiation, shifting the dispute from messaging to evidentiary claims.
- Government, defence and public-sector travel buyers may add vendor due-diligence questions, data-residency clauses and audit rights in renewals.
The counter-case
The allegations may be more competitive messaging than evidence-based risk disclosure. Without verified proof of improper control, data access or security failures, the dispute could create headline volatility but have limited impact on MakeMyTrip’s operations, customer trust or defence-travel business. MakeMyTrip’s Indian incorporation, Nasdaq listing and stated compliance with Indian law may blunt the claims unless regulators identify a concrete breach.