He asked what the in-hand salary would be. The recruiter ended it right there.

A candidate on r/recruitinghell shared a single exchange that ended their application before it began. The role offered Rs 2 LPA. The candidate asked: "What will be my in-hand salary?" The recruiter's reply: "If only salary is the concern, then we believe our company may not be the right fit for you. Thanks and all the best with your search." Reddit's verdict was unanimous: "2 LPA is straight up exploitation" and "Any company that reacts this way to a salary question is a huge red flag." The candidate never got to the interview.