During a conversation with entrepreneur Aman Dhattarwal, Lodha recalled an unusual placement offer made to students at IIM Calcutta. A company based in Africa reportedly offered a staggering ₹80 lakh per annum (LPA) package. At first glance, the figure appeared highly attractive, drawing attention from students.
However, a closer look revealed a surprising breakdown of the offer.
According to Lodha, only ₹40 lakh of the ₹80 LPA was fixed salary. The remaining ₹40 lakh was allocated to a “kidnapping insurance” component—an unusual provision designed to cover ransom payments in case an employee was abducted while working in regions where such risks are reportedly more common.
“This CTC vs in-hand salary is a sort of a scam, I feel,” Lodha remarked during the podcast, using the example to illustrate how headline salary figures can sometimes mask the actual earnings employees receive.
The inclusion of kidnapping insurance, while practical given the location-specific risks, meant that employees would effectively earn only half of the advertised package unless such an extreme situation occurred.
Although the conversation originally took place last year, it has recently resurfaced online, sparking widespread reactions and humor on social media. Users joked about the unusual salary structure, with some sarcastically suggesting ways to “claim” the insurance component, while others pointed out the stark reality of working conditions in certain regions.
Some commenters also claimed that similar compensation structures have been seen before, with a few identifying the company as Tolaram Group, though this has not been independently verified.
Beyond the humor, the story underscores a broader issue in corporate hiring—how CTC figures often include multiple components such as bonuses, insurance, and benefits that do not translate into direct take-home pay.
The viral anecdote serves as a reminder for job seekers, especially fresh graduates, to carefully evaluate salary structures and understand the breakdown of offers before making career decisions.
