EaseMyTrip founder points out national security risks in booking tickets via MakeMyTrip for its Chinese ties

EaseMyTrip co-founder Nishant Pitti recently pointed out a “loophole” at rival travel agency portal MakeMyTrip with “significant Chinese ownership”, causing potential risk to national security. 

EaseMyTrip co-founder alleges national security risk in booking tickets via MakeMyTrip

Taking to social media, he shared screenshots of the MakeMyTrip portal offering discounts to Indian Armed Forces officials in exchange for their defence ID as proof.

Sharing this, Pitti wrote, “Our enemies know where our soldiers are flying.”

The EaseMyTrip boss also posted a screengrab of the Nasdaq filing listing the significant investors in MakeMyTrip, like Trip.com Group Limited, Vanguard Group Inc. and BlackRock Inc. as major stakeholders.

In a following post made by him earlier today, May 16, Pitti elaborated, “MakeMyTrip may dismiss this as a 'motivated accusation, ' but when national security is at stake, silence is not an option.”

He further broke down the reasons for his claims by revealing that “5 out of 10 directors have direct ties to China.”

Proving further Chinese cosmetic control, the entrepreneur also shared the travel tech startup’s website displaying key posts held by Chinese nationals.

As per ANI reports, “We were the first ones to take out a travel advisory against Turkey and Azerbaijan”, claimed Prashant Pitti, following the recent India-Turkey deteriorating relations.

Indian Armed Forces book discounted tickets via a platform majorly owned by China, entering Defence ID, route & date.

Our enemies know where our soldiers are flying.

Attaching screenshots exposing this loophole - it must be patched now. pic.twitter.com/L4SxHRmaCX

— Nishant Pitti (@nishantpitti) May 14, 2025

Notably, MakeMyTrip has also removed all promotions and non-essential travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan.

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Netizens respond

While MakeMyTrip has not responded to any claims made by Pitti, netizens have responded to his post. Some gave full support to Pitti, while many individuals have accused him of low levels of competitiveness. Others have questioned why the risk of national security was not flagged earlier.

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