JioHotstar Domain Controversy: Dubai Teens Offer Domain to Reliance at No Cost
JioHotstar Domain Controversy: Dubai Teens Offer Domain to Reliance at No Cost
Jainam and Jivika, siblings from Dubai, purchased the contentious JioHotstar domain from a Delhi app developer who had demanded ₹1 crore from Reliance Industries for it. In a surprising turn of events, they have now offered to transfer the domain to Mukesh Ambani’s company for free. In an update posted on jiohotstar.com, the siblings expressed that they believe it would be best for Reliance to own the domain.
They stated, “Considering all the discussions happening, we now feel it might be best for Team Reliance to have this domain, if they desire. We are pleased to give jiohotstar.com to them at no cost, with all necessary paperwork. To clarify, this is entirely our decision. No one from Reliance or any legal entity has reached out to us or pressured us in any way. We made this choice independently, without any influence from friends, family, or others.”
Thirteen-year-old Jainam Jain and ten-year-old Jivika Jain explained that they acquired the domain to assist the Delhi-based app developer and never had any intention of selling it for profit.
They mentioned that they had received numerous emails from individuals wanting to purchase the domain, many of whom “offered a lot of money.”
“We want to clarify any misunderstandings: we never anticipated this level of attention and never intended to create any controversy. Our sole purpose was to support the developer and share our seva (service) journey,” they stated, emphasizing that the domain was not for sale.
“If Reliance is interested, they can reach out to us, and we will ensure a smooth transfer. If they choose not to pursue it, that’s perfectly fine too. We will continue to provide updates about our journey and work,” they wrote.
The JioHotstar controversy started when an anonymous app developer contacted Reliance Industries to sell the JioHotstar domain for over ₹1 crore to fund his executive MBA at Cambridge University. He had purchased the domain after hearing rumors in 2023 about a potential merger between Jio Cinema and Hotstar, hoping to profit from the sale once the merger was confirmed this year.
However, Reliance Industries declined to engage in any negotiations with him, according to reports. Instead, the developer sold the domain to two siblings from Dubai, who claimed they acquired it to “support and uplift others.”
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