Byju’s under scrutiny again: Government launches new investigation into finances

The government has launched a fresh investigation into the financial and accounting practices of Byju’s, the troubled edtech giant. The new investigation comes after a previous review by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs highlighted lapses in corporate governance at the company, according to sources familiar with the matter, reported Bloomberg.
The Registrar of Companies’ regional office in Hyderabad has been asked to examine Byju’s financial records. The probe aims to determine if the company misrepresented its financial statements or if funds were improperly diverted.
Sources mentioned in the report confirmed that irregularities in Byju’s accounts triggered the investigation. Specific details about the shortcomings have not been disclosed. The registrar has a year to complete its review and submit findings.
The latest probe follows an earlier yearlong inspection by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. While that review found corporate governance issues at Byju’s, no conclusive evidence of financial wrongdoing was uncovered.
Once India’s most valuable startup, with a valuation of $22 billion, Byju’s is now grappling with financial turmoil and legal challenges. The company is entangled in insolvency proceedings both in India and the United States.
In October, the Supreme Court of India overturned a bankruptcy tribunal’s ruling that had allowed Byju’s to settle its debts with a key creditor. This decision has returned the company to the insolvency process, with control of its operations handed over to an insolvency resolution professional.
The rapid decline of Byju’s has hit its investors hard. Prominent backers, including Prosus NV, have written off their investments. Byju Raveendran, the company’s founder, recently acknowledged the firm’s downfall, stating that its valuation has dropped to zero.
There have been no comments from India’s Ministry of Corporate Affairs and the insolvency resolution professional overseeing Byju’s. The company itself has not issued any public statements regarding the new investigation.
Byju’s was once celebrated as a success story in India’s booming edtech sector. However, the company has faced mounting challenges, from debt repayment issues to allegations of mismanagement.