On the complaint of a woman who wanted to become an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and had enrolled for in edtech giant Byju’s coaching of the same an order has been issued against an employee of ed-tech firm Byju’s and film superstar Shah Rukh Khan.
According to the lawsuit, Shah Rukh and the Byju’s employee were accused of ‘fraudulent behavior’ and ‘unfair trade practice.”
On Wednesday, Indore, Madhya Pradesh’s District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission asked Shah Rukh and the Byju’s local manager to repay Rs 1.08 lakh in fees deposited by complainant Priyanka Dixit at the time of admission in 2021 along with 12% annual interest. The two will also pay Ms. Dixit Rs 50,000 as compensation for financial and mental anguish and Rs 5,000 as litigation costs.
The sum will be paid to Ms. Dixit ‘jointly and severally’ by Shah Rukh and the local manager of Byju’s. The phrase ‘jointly and severally’ refers to a partnership in which each person is equally accountable for a responsibility.
The commission issued a judgment saying, ‘Ex parte action was taken against the respondents (Byju’s manager and star Shah Rukh Khan) since they were absent even after notices were issued in the matter and no reply was made on their behalf. On behalf of the opposing parties, the lady complainant was urged to enroll in Byju’s coaching (course) by publishing fraudulent and deceptive internet ads. After collecting the charge, no teaching facility was provided, and despite assurances of a refund, the cost was not repaid, which in itself is fraudulent behavior and displays unfair trade practice.’
Dixit listed Shah Rukh Khan as one of the respondents, alleging she joined in the coaching session on January 13, 2021 to prepare for the Union Public Service Commission’s civil services exams after being swayed by the firm’s marketing.
Dixit claimed in her lawsuit that the business guaranteed her of competent instructor coaching and that her sessions will begin on January 14, 2021, which did not occur.
In her lawsuit, she requested that the corporation return her payments and rescind her enrollment on January 27, 2021. According to Dixit’s lawsuit, despite numerous attempts, the business did not return her expenses.
According to the Consumer Protection Act, a person can submit a complaint against a corporation for faults in services as well as those promoting it, according to Dixit’s lawyer Suresh Kanga.
Kanga said they had sued Byju’s and Khan under these provisions because Khan appeared in the edtech giant’s advertisement, due to which my client enrolled in the IAS Officer coaching course.
