Indian police announced they would file a First Information Report (FIR) against Speak Asia Online, just days after the company launched its new Yug branded shopping portal. This move follows numerous complaints about the market research firm.
Authorities had previously stalled criminal proceedings against Speak Asia. Police stated complainants lacked "substantial document as proof" to support their allegations. This decision came despite an undisclosed number of formal complaints received by the department.
Speak Asia has promoted itself as a market research company. However, income from completing surveys typically pales compared to recruitment commissions. The company primarily functions as a recruitment-driven commission scheme, a fact central to any discussion of its legitimacy.
The police's initial reluctance to act, given consistent public complaints, raised questions about their handling of such matters. The filing of an FIR changes this. An FIR is a written document prepared by Indian police upon receiving information about a cognizable offense.
A cognizable offense allows police to register an FIR, investigate, and arrest an accused without a court warrant. The FIR sets India's criminal justice process in motion, enabling police to investigate the case after registration.
Government regulators previously probed Speak Asia, often stalling or refusing to continue their investigations. Whether this FIR leads to arrests remains uncertain. Inspector General Mukesh Gupta reportedly "lashed out at officials for not initiating any proceeding against the company despite repeated complaints," prompting the police to file the FIR.
The Registrar of Companies report on Speak Asia, due July 10, has not yet been filed.