Mumbai Startup Revokes Rs 22 LPA Job Offer Over Candidate’s Alleged Derogatory Comments on Religion, Sparks Online Debate

Mumbai, 3rd July 2025: A Mumbai-based startup has ignited a heated online debate after rescinding a ₹22 lakh per annum job offer to a junior frontend developer candidate due to their alleged derogatory comments targeting religious communities. The decision, announced publicly by Jobbie founder Mohammed Ahmed Bhati on LinkedIn, has triggered discussions around workplace ethics, digital footprints, and cancel culture in corporate hiring.

In a detailed LinkedIn post, Bhati stated that his company withdrew the offer after background checks revealed that the candidate had made “derogatory comments” on recent public LinkedIn posts. “Cancelled offer letter based on derogatory comments made on some LinkedIn posts,” Bhati wrote, adding that regardless of technical skills, values and mutual respect hold more weight at Jobbie.

The candidate had applied for the position after Jobbie gained widespread attention on Reddit for reportedly conducting 450 interviews without selecting a single candidate from a pool of 12,000 applicants. The applicant had used Jobbie’s resume builder and even offered suggestions for platform improvement—an initiative that impressed the team and prompted them to consider a salary offer higher than their original budget of ₹20 LPA.

However, the hiring process took a turn during the final stages. “We came across recent public posts on LinkedIn that included comments from you which will deeply hurt religious sentiments of certain communities,” the company noted in the formal rejection letter, citing its diverse and inclusive work culture.

Bhati emphasized that Jobbie respects freedom of speech but also believes in accountability. “Talent gets you in the door. Values decide if you stay,” he wrote.

The post, accompanied by screenshots of the offer and rejection letters, quickly went viral, dividing social media users. Critics accused Bhati of promoting “cancel culture” and making a public spectacle out of a private HR decision. “Posting it here isn’t virtue signalling either. It simply shows how immature and insecure you are as a leader,” one user commented.

Others supported the move, applauding Jobbie’s stance on ethics and inclusion. “Indeed a good decision. Glad to see startups taking values seriously,” another user remarked.

Some users highlighted the harsh reality faced by freshers in a competitive job market, expressing sympathy for the candidate. “Only a fresher can understand what the importance of this position was… education teaches humility, and this incident underlines why cultural fit matters.”

The controversy has sparked a broader conversation around the importance of personal conduct on public platforms, especially in an era where hiring decisions are increasingly influenced by online behavior.