An Indian tech professional, Amrutesh Vallabhaneni, has filed a damning lawsuit against his US employer, Siri Software Solutions, LLC (SiriSoft), and its Indian-origin CEO, Pavan Tata.
The lawsuit alleges the company trapped Vallabhaneni in a cycle of forced labor, wage theft, and caste-based exploitation by “weaponizing the H-1B visa program.”
Key Allegations:
- Forced Compliance via Visa Threat: Vallabhaneni claims SiriSoft repeatedly threatened to withdraw his H-1B visa or stop his promised Green Card sponsorship if he did not comply with their demands, making it clear he would face deportation. This pressure tactic was reportedly used to enforce unlawful payment schemes.
- Wage Theft: The company allegedly failed to pay the required government-set prevailing wage and, shockingly, demanded that Vallabhaneni pay his own salary for six months.
- Exploitative Culture: The lawsuit describes the environment as an H-1B “Squid Game,” where the goal is simply to remain in the US. An expert assisting the case noted, “Indian CEOs import home-country caste-discrimination politics into US workplaces.”
- Consequences: The inconsistent and unlawfully low pay caused the techie’s health insurance to lapse, led to missed credit payments, and prevented him and his wife from receiving necessary medical care.
The lawsuit classifies the company’s actions as forced labor and labor trafficking and seeks full compensation and attorney’s fees. SiriSoft has not yet publicly responded to the allegations.
Summary of Core Claims:
| Allegation Category | Specific Claim |
| Visa Abuse | Threatening H-1B withdrawal and Green Card cancellation for non-compliance. |
| Financial | Failure to pay prevailing wages; demanding the employee pay his own salary. |
| Discrimination | Caste-based exploitation within the US workplace. |
| Legal Status | Actions constitute forced labor and labor trafficking. |
