Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Nov 12: An Indian tech professional, Amrutesh Vallabhaneni, has filed a lawsuit in the US against Siri Software Solutions (SiriSoft) and its Indian-origin CEO, Pavan Tata, alleging forced labour, wage theft, and caste-based discrimination.

According to the complaint, the company “weaponised” the H-1B visa system to threaten Vallabhaneni with deportation if he refused to accept exploitative conditions. SiriSoft allegedly forced him to cover his own salary for six months and delayed payments, leaving him unable to afford rent and medical care.

The lawsuit claims the firm used the promise of a Green Card as coercion, threatening to withdraw sponsorship whenever he resisted. As a result, Vallabhaneni and his wife faced severe financial and emotional distress, including loss of health insurance.

“Forced labour, labour trafficking, and withholding visa documents are crimes,” the lawsuit stated, describing his experience as a “Squid Game” for Indian workers trying to stay in the US.

Labour rights consultant Jay Palmer, who helped prepare the case, said, “It’s a very exploitative culture. Indian CEOs import caste-discrimination politics into US workplaces.”

SiriSoft has yet to respond publicly to the allegations. Vallabhaneni, who arrived in the US on an F-1 visa in 2015, joined SiriSoft in 2018 after being promised H-1B sponsorship and a path to permanent residency.