BCCI bowls a beamer at BYJU's

Bengaluru homes have been pledged to raise funds for staff.

His largest offices are being vacated to reduce cash burn.

Government agencies are accusing him of foreign exchange violations.

Investors are urging him to step back from his daily role for increased funds.

And now, the legal battle with BCCI.

This script, a bitter tale, certainly not BYJU Raveendran would have ever wished for himself.

Byju’s, the ed-tech giant that once soared as India’s most valuable startup, now finds itself entangled in a web of legal battles and financial turmoil. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has thrown an $18 million lawsuit at Byju’s, raising eyebrows and prompting a closer look at the company’s recent setbacks.

In 2019, Byju’s proudly donned the Indian cricket team’s jersey as its sponsor. However, the partnership hit rocky terrain in 2022 when Byju’s, grappling with a debt crisis, prematurely terminated the sponsorship deal. Fast forward to November 2022, an email from Byju’s to the BCCI requested the termination of their association after the T20 World Cup. Despite this, the BCCI urged Byju’s to extend the partnership until at least March 31, 2023.

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The legal saga unfolds at the Bengaluru bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), where the BCCI’s complaint, represented by Argus Partners, has been registered. Justices K Biswal and Manoj Dubey have slated the next hearing for December 22. This marks the latest setback for Byju’s, as the ed-tech startup grapples with a series of challenges.

Amid the legal tussle, Byju’s founder, Byju Raveendran , is resorting to drastic measures to navigate the financial storm. In a surprising move, Raveendran has reportedly pledged his homes, including those owned by his family, to secure funds for the beleaguered company. Two family homes in Bengaluru and an under-construction villa in the plush Epsilon gated community have become collateral for a $12 million loan.

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This financial strife is a stark departure from Byju’s glory days when it was valued at nearly $5 billion. Raveendran , once a billionaire, now faces debts of about $400 million on a personal level, having pledged all his shares in the parent company. Even the $800 million raised through share sales in recent years has been reinvested in the company, leaving Raveendran in a cash-strapped predicament.

The company, that once soared to unprecedented heights, is resorting to drastic measures. Another report suggests that Byju’s is in the process of selling its US-based kids’ digital reading platform for around $400 million. Additionally, a legal battle with creditors looms large over a missed interest payment on a $1.2 billion term loan.

Byju’s once came hounding after us for shedding light on the harsh reality of its internal financial crisis. The co-founder took to LinkedIn, delivering a lengthy sermon defending the company. But the tables have turned. Today, Byju’s is in the hot seat, facing scrutiny from all quarters, and strangely silent in its defense.

In a nation where homes symbolize more than mere bricks and mortar, the act of pledging these properties exposes the urgency to salvage the company. Byju’s, once synonymous with success, is now battling to stay afloat. The very houses that embody the emotional core of Indian families are now collateral for a faltering ed-tech giant, emphasizing the gravity of the financial crisis.

Also read: The disintegration of BYJU’s has just begun

Adding fuel to the fire, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently issued show cause notices to Byju’s parent Think & Learn and its CEO, Byju Raveendran . The notices allege violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), involving a staggering amount of Rs 9,362.35 crore.

As Byju’s navigates these troubled waters, the narrative that unfolds is one of a startup that once soared to unprecedented heights, now grappling with financial woes, legal battles, and a tarnished reputation. The $18 million lawsuit from BCCI is just one piece of the complex puzzle that is Byju’s current predicament.