NEW DELHI: In a major escalation of the legal troubles surrounding the once-celebrated edtech entrepreneur, Byju Raveendran, founder of Byju’s, has been sentenced to six months in prison by a Singapore court for contempt of court.

The Singapore High Court found Raveendran guilty of repeatedly failing to comply with multiple judicial orders related to the disclosure of his personal and corporate assets since April 2024. The case is linked to ongoing disputes with international investors and creditors, including matters concerning a disputed loan and ownership of entities such as Beeaar Investco Pte, a Singapore-based company that held shares in affiliated firms.

According to Bloomberg and other reports, the court has directed Raveendran to surrender to authorities immediately. He has also been ordered to pay legal costs of S$90,000 (approximately ₹67 lakh) and submit detailed ownership documents pertaining to the disputed entities.

This marks the first time the embattled founder has been sentenced to jail. Raveendran, however, has described the order as a “procedural contempt” matter and maintained that there was no wrongdoing on his part. He has indicated his intention to appeal the ruling and is expected to appear in court again on June 15.

The development comes as Byju’s, once valued at $22 billion and India’s most valuable startup, continues to face severe financial distress, insolvency proceedings, and multiple lawsuits from investors and lenders. Aggressive acquisitions during the pandemic boom, followed by massive losses, delayed audits, and governance issues, triggered a dramatic collapse of the company.

Legal experts view the Singapore judgment as a significant blow that could complicate Raveendran’s efforts to restructure the company and reach settlements with creditors. The case highlights the growing scrutiny of cross-border financial dealings involving Indian promoters in international jurisdictions.

As the news broke, reactions poured in from the Indian startup ecosystem, with many calling it a cautionary tale of unchecked growth and governance failures. Meanwhile, Byju’s parent company, Think & Learn Pvt Ltd, continues to battle insolvency petitions in Indian courts.