Prakash, Kamal, Ajay, and Namrata Hinduja Sentenced for Paying Indian Workers Pennies
In Short:
- Four members of the Hinduja family jailed in Switzerland.
- Found guilty of exploiting Indian domestic staff.
- Acquitted of human trafficking but convicted of "usury".
- Family fortune estimated at £37 billion ($47 billion).
- Sentences: Prakash and Kamal Hinduja - 4.5 years; Ajay and Namrata - 4 years.
- Appeal planned by the family.
In a dramatic turn of events, a Swiss court handed down prison sentences to four members of the Hinduja family, known as Britain’s richest family, for exploiting their Indian domestic staff at their lavish Geneva residence. Prakash Hinduja and his wife Kamal were each sentenced to four and a half years in prison, while their son Ajay and his wife Namrata received four-year terms.
The court found them guilty of "usury," as they paid their employees between 220 and 400 Swiss francs ($250-$450) per month—far below Switzerland's legal standards. Despite being acquitted of the more serious charge of human trafficking, the judge lambasted the family for their "selfish" motives and exploitation of vulnerable workers.
Judge Sabina Mascotto criticized the Hindujas for taking advantage of their employees' lack of education and awareness of their rights. She noted that the workers were brought from India, had their passports confiscated, and were paid a pittance compared to the Swiss minimum wage. Prosecutor Yves Bertossa pointed out that the family spent more on their pet dog than on their staff.
The verdict came after the family, absent from the trial, faced accusations of bringing servants from India under false pretenses and exploiting them once they arrived in Switzerland. The family’s defense argued that the workers appreciated the employment and the opportunities it provided, asserting that the employees were free to leave the villa and were not mistreated.
Despite reaching an out-of-court settlement with the three employees who made the accusations, the prosecution pursued the case due to the gravity of the charges. Following the verdict, the prosecutor called for immediate detention of Ajay and Namrata, citing a flight risk, though the defense refuted this, highlighting Kamal's hospitalization in Monaco and the family's presence at her side.
The Hinduja Group, with interests spanning oil and gas, banking, and healthcare, operates in 38 countries and employs around 200,000 people. The family, whose fortune is estimated at £37 billion ($47 billion), plans to appeal the court's decision, maintaining their innocence and denying any wrongdoing.