Four members of the Hinduja family, Britain’s wealthiest clan, were sentenced to jail by a Swiss court on Friday. The court criticized them for exploiting Indian staff at their Geneva residence, describing their actions as “selfish.” While cleared of human trafficking charges, the Hindujas were found guilty of other offenses.
Shocking Verdict for the Wealthy Hinduja Family
This verdict came as a shock to the Hinduja family, whose net worth is estimated at £37 billion ($47 billion) according to the Sunday Times Rich List. Prakash Hinduja and his wife Kamal Hinduja each received four years and six months, while their son Ajay and his wife Namrata received four-year terms, as ruled by the presiding judge in Geneva.
The Hinduja Group’s Diverse Business Interests
The Hinduja Group, managed and controlled by the family, has diverse business interests including mobility, digital technology, infrastructure project development, lubricants to energy, real estate, and healthcare.
The Foundation and Growth of the Hinduja Group
The foundation of the Hinduja Group was laid by Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja, who established an office in Iran (the first outside India) in 1919. The Group remained headquartered in Iran until 1979 and then moved to Europe. Over the last 100 years, the Group expanded and diversified its businesses. Today, it employs over 200,000 people and has offices in key cities around the world, including major cities in India.
The Hinduja Family’s Wealth and Ranking
According to Forbes, the family has been ranked as the seventh richest in India and the 146th richest globally in recent years.
Accusations of Exploitation and Confiscation of Passports
The cases against the Hinduja family stem from their practice of bringing servants from India and accusations of confiscating their passports once they arrived in Switzerland. Prosecutors argued that the Hindujas paid their staff very low wages and provided them with little freedom to leave the house.
Reaction from the Hinduja Family
Reacting to the court’s decision, the Hindujas expressed their disappointment and stated that they were appalled by the verdict. They emphasized that their clients had been acquitted of all human trafficking charges and that they had filed an appeal to the higher court. They also clarified that under Swiss law, the presumption of innocence is maintained until a final judgment by the highest adjudicating authority is enforced. The family’s lawyers further stated that there is no effective detention for any members of the family, contrary to some media reports.
