New Delhi: Byju Raveendran, founder of BYJU's, has contested a default judgment by a US bankruptcy court in Delaware, which held him personally liable to pay over USD 1.07 billion, following a petition by BYJU's Alpha and GLAS Trust. The court ruling, issued on an expedited basis, was a default judgment because Raveendran was not permitted to present a defence as the court relied on a prior contempt order. Byju's legal team stated that the judgment was premature since GLAS had withdrawn its claim for damages in September 2025. They accused GLAS of misleading the court and emphasised that the funds in question were used for the benefit of Think & Learn Private Limited, BYJU's parent company, not for personal gain.

Raveendran's legal counsel said they will promptly appeal the judgment and related orders, arguing that the court ignored relevant facts and denied Raveendran the right to defend himself. They also indicated ongoing efforts to prepare US federal claims of racketeering and obstruction of justice estimated at over USD 2.5 billion against GLAS and others, asserting damage to the reputation of BYJU's founders.

The default judgment includes USD 533 million in damages for breach of fiduciary duty and an additional USD 540.6 million for claims of conversion and civil conspiracy. The court found a pattern of willful non-compliance by Raveendran, including missed deadlines and non-appearances, which led to the ruling. Enforcement of the ruling depends on cross-jurisdictional actions, and Raveendran maintains he has respected court processes while GLAS allegedly attempted to expedite proceedings for strategic advantage.

With inputs from ANI