Phaneesh Murthy drags iGate to court

Former iGate CEO Phaneesh Murthy, who was sacked by the US-based IT services firm for failing to disclose his relationship with a subordinate in May this year, has slapped the company with a law suit.

Murthy, one of India's best-known IT leaders, claimed in the law suit -- filed before a California court last Monday -- that iGate knew about his relationship with a subordinate employee and "improperly" used the reporting policy to terminate him.

The disgraced former chief executive has also claimed iGate withheld vested stocks worth about $17 million due to him. "I have a letter from one of the independent directors of the Board of iGate saying he knew of my relationship with the employee since January 2012," Murthy told PTI.

Murthy claimed that he has, as proof, a signed letter from the director,  that the Board knew about the relationship. When contacted, iGate Spokesperson Prabhanjan Deshpande said: "We believe that this claim has no merit, and we intend to vigorously defend this action." Murthy said iGate has also withheld his vested stocks and various benefits due to him.

"I have reached out to them (iGate) multiple times for my employee benefits, but they always said it will happen soon. That has not come through for the last six months.

"As per the employee contract, I'm eligible for the vested stock, which is 527,000. The worth of my vested stock is about $17 million and it is my life saving. I did not sell the stocks as the Board requested me not to sell saying it would send a negative signal," he said.

Murthy said he is also claiming other termination benefits and his lawsuit is for vested stock termination benefits and damages from iGate.

"Employment contracts are sacrosanct. I have put in lot of hard work and created value for the firm and still if they do not to honour the contract, it is not a good thing. This will not stand in the US court," he said.

When asked whether iGate has contacted him post his filing the law suit in the court, he answered in the negative.

California-headquartered iGate in a filing with the US SEC in March 2013 had said: "Upon termination other than for cause, Murthy would receive a lumpsum payment of 12 months severance at $1,000,000." 

Murthy was sacked for violating the company's policy on relationship with a colleague.

He is, however, entitled to a post termination benefit of $6,000 per month till he and his spouse reach the age of 65 as per a filing with the SEC in May 2013.

Murthy, one of the youngest directors and a rising star at India's second largest software services firm Infosys, was forced to quit the firm in 2002 following a sexual harassment lawsuit that was settled out of court.