The National Commission for the Protection of Rights (NCPCR) has claimed that Indian edtech major Byju's is threatening kids and their parents to ruin their futures if they do not buy their courses, news agency ANI reported. The body has also accused the start-up of purchasing mobile numbers of parents to coerce them. 

"We came to know how Byju's buying phone numbers of children and their parents, rigorously following them and threatening them that their future will be ruined. They're targeting first-generation learners. We'll initiate action and, if necessary, will make e report and write to the government," NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanoongo told ANI.

On Friday, NCPCR summoned Byju Raveendran, the CEO, over the allegations of malpractices conducted by the sales team. 

Citing a media report, which carried customers' experience of being exploited and deceived, it said, "As the Commission has come across a news article wherein it has been pointed out that the sales team of BYJU'S is indulging in malpractices to lure parents into buying their courses for their children. It has also been mentioned in the news report that some customers have claimed that they were exploited and deceived and had put their savings and futures in jeopardy."

The commission told Raveendran to appear in person at 2:00 PM on December 23. 

Since October, Byju's has been subjected to a lot of controversies. The company was heavily criticised for announcing its plans to rationalise 5 per cent of its 50,000-strong workforce in the coming months. Recently few ex and current salespersons pointed figures towards its harsh work culture. According to a Reuters report, they outlined incidents of physical and verbal abuse by their managers. Additionally, they claimed that the managers prevented them from taking lunch breaks and time off if the targets were not met.