Mumbai : A Mumbai-based startup founder has made headlines for rescinding a lucrative job offer after discovering the candidate’s derogatory remarks against religious communities on social media, reported the Hindustan Times.
Mohammed Ahmed Bhati, founder of Jobbie — an AI-powered career platform — revealed in a LinkedIn post that a job offer worth ₹22 lakh per annum was cancelled after a routine background check uncovered “deeply disrespectful” public comments by the candidate.
The candidate had reportedly performed exceptionally well in the interview process, even going beyond expectations by suggesting improvements to the platform and using Jobbie’s own tools to craft a compelling resume. Impressed by the skills and attitude, the company had initially planned to offer a salary above their budget.
However, Bhati explained, “We found public posts that included remarks which could hurt religious sentiments. That’s not a value we are willing to compromise on.”
He added, “No matter how talented someone is, respect and basic decency matter to us more. Talent gets you in the door, but values decide if you stay.”
Jobbie is a growing AI-powered platform designed to streamline job hunting and career development. The company gained recent attention on Reddit after conducting 450 interviews from over 12,000 applicants.
In his post, Bhati also shared screenshots of the offer letter and the official withdrawal message sent to the candidate. The rejection note read, “We came across some recent public posts on LinkedIn that included comments from you which will deeply hurt the religious sentiments of certain communities.”
The decision sparked debate online. While many praised the founder for upholding values over mere qualifications, others accused him of promoting “cancel culture” in hiring.
One user commented, “Revoking an offer letter based on someone’s social media activity shows how this cancel culture can affect organisations when the wrong people get into leadership roles.”
Another wrote, “You’re trying to assert power based on personal beliefs. Would you react the same way if the situation was reversed?”
However, many supported the move. “Would you be comfortable working with a racist, casteist or sexist? Qualifications shouldn’t be the only parameter,” a user argued.
Another said, “Great decision. Better to reject early than cause emotional damage later.”
This incident has reignited the debate around professional conduct, online behavior, and the evolving expectations of workplace culture.
