**EaseMyTrip’s Chairman Raises Concerns Over Data Security on Rival Platform**
Nishant Pitti, the chairman and founder of travel aggregator EaseMyTrip, has raised serious allegations against rival company MakeMyTrip, claiming that their website has a significant security loophole. Pitti asserts that the platform, which he describes as being “majorly owned by China,” poses a risk to the data safety of Indian Armed Forces personnel who use it to book tickets.
In a post on social media, Pitti highlighted that Indian Armed Forces members booking discounted tickets through this platform are required to enter sensitive information, including their Defence ID, travel route, and dates. He expressed concern that this data could inadvertently expose the travel details of Indian soldiers to foreign entities, particularly given the ownership structure of the platform.
While Pitti did not explicitly name MakeMyTrip in his initial post, the accompanying screenshots and subsequent comments strongly indicated that he was referring to this specific company. According to Pitti, Trip.com Group Limited, which previously operated as Ctrip.com International Limited, holds a majority stake in MakeMyTrip, having acquired it in September 2019.
Pitti’s post also detailed the ownership distribution of MakeMyTrip, noting that Vangard Group Inc. owns 12.43%, BlackRock Inc. holds 10.85%, and Fidelity Management and Research has a 7.82% stake, among other institutional investors. The company is publicly traded on Nasdaq and has a diverse shareholder base, with over 7.6 crore shares held by 331 institutional holders.
In response to Pitti’s allegations, a spokesperson for MakeMyTrip emphasized that the company is fundamentally Indian, founded and headquartered in India, and has been serving millions of Indian travelers for over 25 years. The spokesperson stated that MakeMyTrip operates independently and adheres to strict corporate governance standards, complying with all relevant Indian laws.
The spokesperson further reiterated the company’s commitment to excellence, led by a team of experienced Indian professionals, and declined to comment on the specific allegations made by Pitti.
As the debate continues, the implications of data security for users of travel platforms remain a critical concern, particularly for those in sensitive positions such as the Armed Forces.
**FAQ**
**What are the allegations made by Nishant Pitti against MakeMyTrip?**
Nishant Pitti alleges that MakeMyTrip’s platform compromises the data security of Indian Armed Forces personnel by exposing their travel details to potential foreign entities, due to its ownership structure.
