Byju's buying phone numbers of kids, parents and threatening them: NCPCR chief

The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has alleged that edtech startup Byju's purchases data, including phone numbers, of children and their parents, and forces them to buy courses.

NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo told news agency ANI that the commission has initiated action and will send a report to the Centre if needed.


"We came to know how Byju's buying phone numbers of children and their parents, rigorously following them and threatening them that their future will be ruined. They're targeting first-generation learners," Kanoongo said, as quoted by the agency.

"We'll initiate action and if need be will make report and write to government," he added.


On Friday, the NCPCR summoned the Bengaluru-based edtech startup’s CEO, Byju Raveendran, over allegations that malpractices had been committed by the company’s sales team.

The team allegedly mis-sold Byju’s courses to many parents, including several from low-income homes.

Read | 'Loss after loss': Parents detail how Byju's pushed them into debt

The summon was issued after a media report claimed that the company’s customers said they had been exploited and deceived by the K-12 online tutor, eating into their savings and putting their future in jeopardy.

Raveendran has been asked to appear in person before NCPCR at 2 pm on December 23 to respond to the allegations.

It also instructed him to provide details of the courses run by Byju’s for children, the structure of the courses, fee details, number of students enrolled in courses, refund policy, legal documents recognising Byju’s as a valid edtech company, and other documents, during his appearance.

Also read | Won't spare edtech if guidelines have been violated: NCPCR chief

"Under Section 14 of CPCR Act,2005, the Commission has all the powers of a Civil Court trying a suit under the Civil Procedure Code, 1908 and particular, in respect of the following matters- (a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath; (b) discovery and production of any document; (c) receiving evidence on affidavits; (d) requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office; and (e) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents," the statement from NCPCR had said.

Byju's, India's most valuable startup, is facing a range of complaints on social media platforms and consumer websites from customers who say they were exploited and deceived, putting their savings and futures in jeopardy.

The edtech firm was last valued at $22 billion. It reported a loss of Rs 4,588 crore for FY2021, up from just Rs 262 crore in the previous fiscal.