Divya Gokulnath, co-founder of embattled edtech company Byju’s, has publicly denied accusations that she and her husband, Byju Raveendran, misused company funds for personal gain. In a recent interview, Gokulnath dismissed claims that they diverted loan proceeds, stating the couple is currently unable to even afford legal representation in U.S. courts.
“If we truly had hundreds of millions of dollars, we would have had no trouble affording legal representation,” she told ANI. She described their current legal struggles, noting that multiple judgments in the U.S. are being passed against them due to a lack of legal counsel. “I’ll show you emails where they say, give us a million dollars. Lawyers are saying, ‘Give us a million dollars or we won’t represent you.’ Where do I get the million dollars from?” she added, strongly rejecting allegations of sitting on large sums of money.
Byju’s is currently entangled in several legal disputes in both the United States and India over unpaid debts and alleged financial mismanagement.
“Unfair” Personal Attacks and a Tarnished Image
Divya Gokulnath also expressed frustration over what she described as “unfair” personal attacks against her and her husband, emphasizing that their reputations are being unjustly damaged. She claimed that her focus has always been on creating value and contributing to India’s educational ecosystem.
“Honestly, I don’t care about the money. It comes, it goes,” she said, adding that spiritual strength symbolized by Goddess Saraswati matters more to her than material wealth. “For me, it’s about the tarnishing which has happened, which I feel is so unfair.”
Gokulnath emphasized that the couple’s intent behind building Byju’s was deeply rooted in national pride. “It was all about what we could do for our country. And not what the country can do for us,” she said. She reaffirmed that Byju’s was built as a “made in India, made by Indians” platform, dedicated to serving students globally.
Claims of Targeted Intimidation and a Larger Vision
Addressing the pressures the company and her family have been under, Divya Gokulnath accused unnamed parties of launching a “targeted campaign of intimidation and pressure tactics” aimed at isolating her husband. She alleged that individuals close to Raveendran including family members, colleagues, and legal advisors were being threatened as part of a strategy to wear them down.
“I think indirectly that’s what they’re trying to say. They’re saying, ‘Stand off’ but it’s not going to happen,” Divya Gokulnath asserted. She believes that truth and a shared mission continue to unify those involved with Byju’s, despite mounting pressure and reputational damage.
Divya Gokulnath concluded by reinforcing the company’s original vision to be a global example of India’s educational prowess. “Education belongs to India,” she said, reiterating their decision to remain in India and build a homegrown success story rather than pursue opportunities abroad.
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