Four members of the wealthy Hinduja family have been found guilty of exploiting poorly paid servants at their luxury villa in Geneva. This verdict is a significant setback for the Swiss branch of one of India’s richest and most powerful families.
Ajay Hinduja, his wife Namrata, and his parents Prakash and Kamal were found guilty of paying their staff much less than Swiss law requires. Judge Sabina Mascotto stated that the servants, hired from India, were paid a fraction of what they should have been. The elder Hindujas received 4 1/2-year prison sentences, while Ajay and Namrata each got 4 years. Despite this, it’s unclear if they will serve time, as they did not attend the trial, citing health issues.
“The domestic staff were clearly exploited,” said Judge Mascotto. The workers were vulnerable, didn’t speak the local language, had their passports taken away, and were only paid every 3-6 months. The Hindujas, being familiar with Swiss laws, knew they were taking advantage of the staff’s situation.
The family’s lawyers expressed their disappointment and filed an appeal, saying, “The family has full faith in the judicial process and remains confident that the truth will prevail.”
Geneva’s top prosecutor, Yves Bertossa, who has a strong track record of high-profile convictions, led this case. He argued that the Hindujas exploited the workers, making them work long hours without proper pay or legal protections.
Namrata’s lawyer explained that the defendants were absent because Kamal Hinduja was ill, and the family needed to be with her. Ajay’s lawyer added that Ajay had attended all previous hearings and missed this one only due to his mother’s illness.
The court ordered the Hinduja family to pay 850,000 Swiss francs ($950,000) in compensation and about 270,000 francs in legal fees. Prosecutor Bertossa also requested that the younger Hindujas surrender their passports and pay 2 million francs each as bail if they return to Switzerland.
This case began in 2018 when Swiss prosecutors raided the Geneva villa and Hinduja Bank offices after a tipoff. The raids targeted the local Hinduja family members, not the bank or other family branches.
Founded in 1914, the Hinduja Group has become a massive enterprise interested in finance, media, and energy. Despite internal family disputes, the Hinduja dynasty remains one of Asia’s richest, with a combined wealth of at least $14 billion.
This conviction highlights the importance of following legal and ethical standards, no matter how wealthy or influential one might be.
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