Washington/Chennai: A storm has hit the marital life of Sridhar Vembu, the founder of the renowned software firm 'Zoho.' The divorce proceedings of the couple, who are ending decades of marriage, have reached a critical stage. A US court has directed Vembu to provide bonds worth approximately $1.7 billion (roughly ₹15,300 crore) to his wife, Pramila Srinivasan.

Background of the Case

Sridhar Vembu and Pramila Srinivasan filed for divorce last year in a California court.after hearing the arguments, the court ordered the transfer of this massive bond amount to his wife’s name.

Stay on the Order:

Christopher C. Welcher, the legal counsel for Sridhar Vembu, has challenged this court order. Since Vembu has already filed an appeal, the instruction to transfer the $1.7 billion bond is currently stayed, as reported by news outlets.

A Rift in a Three-Decade-Long Marriage

The journey of Sridhar Vembu and Pramila’s life together is as follows:

* Marriage: The couple married in 1993 and lived in California for nearly 30 years.

* Education: A graduate of IIT-Madras, Vembu moved to the US in 1989 to pursue a PhD at Princeton.

* Business Origins: In 1996, along with his brothers and friend Tony Thomas, he started 'AdventNet.' This company was rebranded as 'Zoho Corporation' in 2009.

* Family: The couple has a 26-year-old son who has been diagnosed with autism.

Vembu’s Return to India

In 2019, Sridhar Vembu left the United States and returned to India. He garnered significant attention by running Zoho’s operations from his ancestral village, Mathalamparai, in Tamil Nadu. However, the couple officially filed for divorce in 2021.

The personal crisis of Sridhar Vembu, one of the world's most successful entrepreneurs, has sent shockwaves through the corporate world. There is widespread curiosity regarding the final verdict of the court.