Man spends Rs 2.3 lakh fees for 'self-discipline challenge' to win Rs 1.1 crore, fails thrice, sues organisers

The court in Xian has accepted the lawsuit, but a hearing date has not been set. (Representational)

A man in China found himself in court after spending 20,000 yuan (Rs 2.3 lakh) in registration fees to participate in a "self-discipline challenge," only to fail three times. The man, surnamed Zhang, hoped to win the top prize of 860,000 yuan (Rs 1.1 crore), but instead, he ended up disillusioned and broke.

The challenge, run by Xian Mulin Culture Communication Company in northwestern China, promised lucrative rewards to participants who could adhere to strict rules while staying in a room monitored by surveillance cameras. Zhang’s ordeal began in September when he registered for the ultimate level of the challenge, with the grand prize enticing him to pay a hefty entry fee of 6,900 yuan per attempt.

Contestants were required to comply with a stringent set of conditions, including turning the light on and off only once daily before 6 am, not moving or covering the cameras, and ensuring their faces were visible at all times, with any obstruction lasting no more than three seconds.

Additional rules banned participants from drinking or covering beers provided in the room.

The potential rewards were structured to escalate with each level of completion: 6,800 yuan for three days, 28,000 yuan for six days, and up to 860,000 yuan for successfully staying 26 days. However, the steep registration fees increased in tandem with the prize levels, raising questions about the fairness of the system.

Zhang’s journey was fraught with missteps. His first attempt ended within 24 hours when he violated the face-covering rule. Undeterred, he registered again the next day, only to fail when his back accidentally blocked the camera while making his bed.

“I was unemployed at that time and in debt. After failing the first time, I felt I had the experience to give it another go,” Zhang admitted, South China Morning Post reported.

Still unwilling to give up, Zhang borrowed money from a friend for a third attempt. This time, he managed to last 10 days before being disqualified for unintentionally covering the beer bottles in the room.

A relative suggested that Zhang might have fallen victim to a scam, prompting him to sue Xian Mulin Culture Communication Company. The court in Xian has accepted the lawsuit, but a hearing date has not been set. Zhang’s lawyer argued that the challenge’s rules were "unreasonable and unfair," subjecting participants to undue psychological strain.

“This is not just about losing money; it’s about how these challenges exploit the vulnerable,” the lawyer said, hinting at potential broader implications for similar schemes.

Such challenges have gained popularity in China, but they have also attracted scrutiny. Last month, a court in Shandong province ordered a company to refund 5,400 yuan to a participant who paid 6,000 yuan to join a similar "isolation challenge." The man was disqualified for using a pillow to cover his face while sleeping.