Hyderabad woman accuses e-learning firm Simplilearn of harassment after she tried to cancel subscription
The course was facilitated through FIBE, Simplilearn’s finance partner, which offered an EMI-based payment plan
By Newsmeter Network
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Hyderabad: A 42-year-old woman working as an HR professional at a US-based staffing company in Sanjeeva Reddy Nagar has accused Simplilearn, a Bangalore-based online education platform, and its finance partner, FIBE, of harassment, threats and misuse of her personal information. The victim, whose identity has been withheld for privacy reasons, filed a complaint with the Sanjeeva Reddy Nagar police, detailing a distressing ordeal that began in September 2024.
Applicant alleges Aadhaar and bank details collected without consent
According to Sanjeeva Reddy Nagar Inspector Srinath Reddy, the woman enrolled in a Business Analyst Online Certification Course offered by Simplilearn on September 28, 2024. The course was facilitated through FIBE, Simplilearn’s finance partner, which offered an EMI-based payment plan. During the admission process, conducted via Google Meet or Zoom, the woman claimed that her Aadhaar, PAN and bank account details were collected without her full awareness or consent.
‘Request for cancelling admission ignored’
The next day, the woman decided to cancel her admission and informed her study guide. She also sent multiple emails to both Simplilearn and FIBE requesting the cancellation. However, she alleges that her requests were ignored, and instead of addressing her concerns, executives from both companies began harassing her.
Complainant claims company blackmailed her with fake nude images
According to the woman, she was threatened with dire consequences, including death, if she failed to pay the Rs 45,000 course fee. Shockingly, she also accused the companies of creating manipulated nude images using her photos and threatening to release them publicly unless she complied with their demands.
They assured me during the admission process that I could cancel the course if I wasn’t satisfied. But when I tried to do so, they turned hostile and started threatening me. They even created fake nude images to blackmail me, the victim said in her statement to the police.
The Sanjeeva Reddy Nagar police on Thursday have registered a case under Section 78, 351(2) of the BNS, and Section 66(E) of the IT Act. Inspector Srinath Reddy, who is overseeing the case, confirmed that the complaint is being taken seriously.
“We are tracing their addresses using technical details such as phone numbers and websites associated with them,” Inspector Reddy said. The investigation is ongoing.
