Singapore court sentences Byju Raveendran to 6 months in jail over contempt

According to Byju Raveendran, the parties involved in the settlement discussions had acknowledged that there was no wrongdoing on his part or on the part of the other founders. FILE PIC

Edtech company Byju's founder Byju Raveendran has been sentenced to six months in jail by a Singapore court for contempt after allegedly failing to comply with multiple court orders related to disclosure of his assets, according to a report.

Bloomberg reported that the Singapore court directed Raveendran to surrender before the authorities, pay legal costs of 90,000 Singapore Dollars (around USD 70,500), and furnish documents establishing his ownership of Beeaar Investco Pte, a corporate entity that held shares in a related company.

Responding to the court order, Raveendran said settlement discussions with lenders, including GLAS Trust and Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), along with other stakeholders, were already at an advanced stage, with only a few minor issues remaining unresolved, news agency IANS reported.

"I am disappointed that the recent Singapore court matter has been pursued and reported in a manner that creates a misleading impression about me, especially at a time when all key parties have almost concluded the settlement discussions," he said in a statement.

According to Raveendran, the parties involved in the settlement discussions had acknowledged that there was no wrongdoing on his part or on the part of the other founders.

"That is why it is deeply unfortunate that this matter is being used to create a contrary public narrative at this sensitive stage," he added.

Chose "resolution over confrontation", says Byju's founder

Raveendran further said that he had not actively contested several court proceedings in recent months as the parties were working towards a comprehensive settlement.

"I chose resolution over confrontation," he stated.

Raveendran also alleged that QIA's decision to continue pursuing the matter appeared to be an unnecessary pressure tactic.

Byju's was yet to comment officially on the report.

The development marks the latest setback for the embattled founder, who is facing legal and financial scrutiny from investors and lenders across multiple jurisdictions, including the United States, where creditors are seeking to recover losses linked to a soured USD 1.2 billion loan.

According to the report, the legal action in Singapore was initiated by a subsidiary of QIA, which had invested in the company during a period when Byju's was undertaking job cuts and restructuring operations.

Fresh legal setback comes after Delaware Court reversed earlier ruling against Raveendran

Qatar Holdings was represented by law firm Drew & Napier, while Byju's Investments was represented by Fervent Chambers in the matter.

The development comes months after the Delaware Court in December 2025 reversed its earlier USD 1 billion judgment against Raveendran after reviewing fresh submissions filed through a motion seeking correction of a November 20 ruling.

The Delaware Court had then observed that damages had not been properly determined and ordered a fresh phase of proceedings to decide whether any damages were owed.

Raveendran's legal team had alleged that GLAS Trust and lenders withheld or misrepresented key information during the proceedings, which they claimed contributed to the collapse of the edtech business and erosion of enterprise value.

(With IANS inputs)