Qatar Holdings moves Karnataka HC to recover $250 mn from BYJU’S

Qatar Holdings LLC has filed an enforcement of foreign arbitral award petition at the Karnataka High Court to secure nearly $235 million along with an interest payment of $14 million from Byju Raveendran and his investment company Byju’s Investments Pte. Ltd (BIPL), as awarded by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre on July 14, 2025. The petition, filed on August 12 in the Karnataka High Court, seeks the enforcement of a partial final award against Raveendran and the Singapore-based entity BIPL, which is the company’s investment vehicle.

In its prayer before the Karnataka High Court, Qatar Holdings also seeks an injunction order restricting Byju Raveendran and his companies from dealing with the company’s assets by way of selling, pledging, or taking any such action. Further, Qatar also seeks a court direction to Raveendran to disclose under oath a list of all assets, their location, and value, whether owned by him, jointly with others, or beneficially held by others on his behalf and that of his companies.

Additionally, Qatar Holdings wants a receiver to be appointed to take control and possession of movable and immovable properties and auction them to recover its dues.

The dispute of Qatar Holdings against BYJU’s relates to the company’s nearly $1 billion acquisition of Aakash Educational Services Ltd. Qatar Holdings had financed $150 million for the deal for the acquisition of 17,891,289 shares in Aakash, with personal guarantees by founder Byju Raveendran.

While BYJU’s was obligated to pay back $300 million in March 2025, upon default of terms and share transfer, Qatar Holdings terminated the agreement and sought immediate repayment of $235 million from the company early last year.

In March 2024, Qatar Holdings commenced an emergency arbitration in Singapore to secure its monies. The Emergency Arbitrator ordered a global freezing order on BIPL and Raveendran's funds and assets up to a value of $235 million, and the Singapore High Court subsequently confirmed the award and the global freezing order.