Startup faces online backlash after revoking ₹22 LPA offer to candidate over hate speech
Mumbai: Jobbie, a Mumbai-based startup has faced online backlash and trolling after it revoked a high-paying job offer over the candidate’s alleged hate speech on LinkedIn. The platform, which had hoped to spark a conversation around responsibility and decency in online spaces, is now grappling with mass reporting, fake reviews, and targeted harassment.
Mohammed Ahmed Bhati, founder of Jobbie, announced in an Linked in post last week that his team rejected an offer worth ₹22 lakh per annum after discovering public remarks by the candidate that were “derogatory towards religious communities.” The post, which Bhati says was intended to highlight how online hate can carry real-world consequences, went viral and was widely covered by media.
But what followed, Bhati claims, was an aggressive backlash. In a recent Reddit post allegedly written by Bhati, he revealed that his verified LinkedIn profile was mass reported and subsequently taken down. Jobbie’s website was allegedly offline for nearly 15 hours, its Google rating plummeted from 4.8 to 3.4 due to coordinated fake reviews, and some employees were harassed over the founder’s religious identity.
Bhati stressed that his post did not mention any community or individual by name. “People simply judged that I am Muslim, assumed the other person must be Hindu, and concluded I took away someone’s offer based on religion,” he wrote. He also noted that some news outlets framed the story through a religious lens, despite his post’s stated goal of promoting digital civility.
The startup’s rejection email had stated that the candidate’s recent LinkedIn activity included remarks that could deeply hurt the sentiments of certain communities. Bhati maintains that the company's decision was rooted in principle: “No matter how skilled someone is, respect and basic decency matter to us more. Talent gets you in the door. Values decide if you stay.”
What began as an attempt to set a standard for respectful conduct in the workplace has now turned into a test of resilience for the startup itself. As of now, Bhati’s LinkedIn account remains restricted, even after re-verification. “The irony is that the very account trying to bring communal harmony was taken down for communal violations,” he wrote.
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Yenepoya University conducts autism awareness campaign in Mangaluru
Mangaluru: The Department of Occupational Therapy at Yenepoya (Deemed to be University) conducted a community-based Autism Awareness Campaign at Fiza Mall and Ullal Beach in the city.
The campaign was aimed at promoting awareness, inclusion, and early identification of autism, in line with the global theme, “Autism and Humanity – Every Life Has Value.”
The programme was led by Dr. Dhayanithi K and Dr. Ananya Jana as organising chairpersons, with Dr. Anas, Dr. Amanda S. Phillip, and Dr. Ansu V. David served as organising members.
Students of the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) programme participated in conducting the campaign.
The event included activities such as flash mobs, street plays, face painting, mehendi, and direct interaction with the public.
These activities focused on highlighting early signs of autism, the need for early intervention, and the importance of inclusion and acceptance of individuals with autism.
The campaign reached around 300 to 500 members of the public. It also provided students with practical exposure to community-based rehabilitation and public health education.
As part of the initiative, QR-based digital resources were introduced to help the public access reliable information on autism.
“Awareness is the first step towards inclusion, and early intervention can significantly improve outcomes,” the organising team said.
The department thanked the university for its support in organising the campaign. It also acknowledged the cooperation of the management of Fiza Mall and the Ullal Beach Police Department in facilitating the event.
