Update: This girl has something to say about TVF's official response.

Dear Arunabh,

How are you doing today? I’m guessing not so well. I came across this rather poorly written confession of sorts, written under the pseudonym of 'Indian Fowler', what an apt name. If she really wants to level accusations, why isn’t she telling us who she is?

"It was way back in 2014 when i first met Arunabh Kumar. I was young and bubbly as i remember. I met him in a small cafe in BKC. He came across as charming fellow. What caught my attention was that he was another man from my same native state- Bihar. Trying to make his foothold in this brutal city called mumbai. The conversation started with what I do where I have grown up and all that. I was 22 back then. Fresh out of a DU college. Trying my hands as a freelancer in production because no one would give me a full time job."

She mentioned some things about you, some very ugly, horrendous things. I’ll tell you that I don’t believe it for a second. I mean she doesn’t know whom she’s talking about. You’re Arunabh, you’re Yogendra, you’re the man with the plan.

"Day 21- I am abruptly called by Arunabh at 6.45 PM. I am in the local back towards my home. He demands I come back to office. Apparently i have not finished some part of my work. I reluctantly come back. There are 3 people in office. 2 of them leave withing 5 minutes of me coming in. And Arunabh is sitting on a Chair in a casual manner. I walk up to him. He looks at me and asks me — “ Chaturbhuj Sthan ka naam suni ho”? I am stunned. For Non Starters, Chaturbhuj Sthan is the Red Light District of Muzaffarpur. I didnt respond. His second question- “Humko Chaturbhuj Sthan Bahut Pasand Hai. Udhar commercial deals hoti hain. Tum Bhi to commercial deal pe aayi ho”. I was getting where he was leading the discussion to. I avoided an interaction. I said “Arunabh, aap bade bhai hain. Meri tabiyat thodi theek nahi hai. Kya karna hai bataiye. Hum karke ghar jaayenge” He suddenly holds my hand. Says “Madam, thoda role play karein”. I was stunned. None of this was something i had ever asked for. I ran away. Locked myself in the toilet. And cried. He went away. But i was thinking why the hell he is after me? What did i do to make this happen to me. That was the longest night of my life."

I know you’re human. I know you can make mistakes, but not like this. Perhaps she’s exaggerating. Perhaps she was fired when she couldn’t do her job properly and she’s taking it out on you. Perhaps, no no no, I’m not going to believe a word of it. I refuse to. 

"I walked out of the place last year. Jobless, Mindless. I dont have much to say. I am not as strong as many other women. I just need my life back. I dont think these guys would let me have one. The constant reminders from their legal on my obligations tells me that i am being tracked."

You are the bastion of the startup culture. When I saw you for the first time in Pitchers, I was inspired.

You did something nobody had thought of before. You didn’t bow down to the big TV guys, you came straight to us, straight to the audience. You had a story to tell, and you told it directly to us. 

I remember sitting there, after the last episode ended. I said to myself, “Man, that sh** is cool, I’m going to start a company too.” You didn’t just convince me, you convinced a generation of young adults like me to go out there, and take on the world. Oh there will be naysayers, but they got nothing on you, you’re built on passion and ambition.

Just like that, a simple college grad became an entrepreneur, a Pitcher. 

When men acquire power, what happens to them? They seem to suddenly forget, forget that they’re not sources of power, just custodians of them. We the people give you power, we the people give you a pedestal, and we the people expect you to use it wisely. We are a civilized society, and I am its civilized participant.

"2. Since then it became routine. Right from Pitchers to Tripling, i was molested. Be it in parties where Arunabh would try to lift me or would try and fall on me pretending he is drunk. One instance was the Ola deal. The Ola team was meeting him and we were taking notes. He walks out of the meeting with some excuse and calls me for some notes. I walk up. He says its time we do a quicky. I am stunned. And i told him i will go to the police. He says “Police to meri pocket me hai”. I walked out deciding never to come back. Then get a call from Legal saying that I am in a breach of contract. Even my Mom tells me not to fight them. Why? Because a 24 year old girl cant fight an IIT guy with so much of money. He calls up my father and tells him that i am making up stories. Whatever that means."

You are innocent, until proven guilty, and one anonymous post is no proof of what you are or what you're not. You are under no obligation to do this, but I request you, as a fan and a believer, to tell me it’s not true.

I want to hear you say that it’s not true.

Yours truly,
A lifelong fan, a believer, and an entrepreneur.

Update: This girl has something to say about TVF's official response.

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