Infosys Co-Founder Kris Gopalakrishnan and IISc Staff Face FIR Over Caste Discrimination Allegations

Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan, along with 17 faculty members and administrators from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, has been accused of caste-based discrimination by a former professor.

The complaint, filed under the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, was registered at the Sadashivanagar police station on January 27, 2025.

Background of the Complaint

The complaint was filed by D Sanna Durgappa, a former faculty member at the IISc’s Centre for Sustainable Technology, who belongs to the Bhovi community, categorized as a Scheduled Caste (SC).

Durgappa claims that his employment at the institute was terminated after he requested funding for his research and that false allegations of sexual harassment were levied against him in retaliation.

He alleges that as a result, he was forced to endure over nine years of unemployment.

Durgappa joined IISc as a lecturer on July 10, 2008, and was promoted to assistant professor in 2011.

According to his complaint, after being denied a separate laboratory and workspace, he made a formal request for funding under the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan, which was subsequently rejected.

His complaints regarding caste discrimination were first raised in 2011 with IISc’s current director, Govindan Rangarajan, through the SC/ST Faculty and Officers Association.

Allegations of Wrongful Termination and Harassment

Durgappa’s complaint accuses the director and other senior officials of orchestrating a conspiracy to have him dismissed from IISc.

He claims he was falsely implicated in a “honey trap” case in 2014 and that the inquiry was mishandled.

According to Durgappa, an investigation by the Legislature Assembly Committee in May 2017 found no evidence of sexual harassment but acknowledged the caste-based discrimination he faced.

The committee had agreed that he would be reinstated, but this promise was never fulfilled.

In 2017 and again in 2020, Durgappa met with IISc’s Director to discuss his reinstatement, but during these meetings, he allegedly faced threats of police complaints.

Eventually, he turned to the courts, filing a private complaint that led to the police registering the First Information Report (FIR).

The Individuals Named in the Complaint

The complaint names several individuals, including Kris Gopalakrishnan, who was a member of the IISc governing council.

The other accused include former IISc Director Balaram P, and faculty members such as Sridhar Warrier, Anil Kumar, Govindan Rangarajan, Sandhya Vishwanath, Dipshika Chakravarthy, and many others.

The FIR was registered under multiple sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, including those relating to false complaints, denial of rights, and acts intended to insult or humiliate members of Scheduled Castes or Tribes.

Legal Consequences Under the SC/ST Act

Durgappa’s complaint has been filed under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, a stringent law designed to prevent discrimination against members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The accused individuals could face severe legal consequences if convicted, including imprisonment and fines.

The case has been registered at the Sadashivanagar police station following the directions of the 71st Civil and Sessions Court of Bengaluru.

Kris Gopalakrishnan’s Background and Response

Kris Gopalakrishnan is a prominent figure in India’s tech industry. As a co-founder of Infosys, he served as the company’s CEO from 2007 to 2011 and vice chairman from 2011 to 2014.

He was honored with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, in 2011.

Gopalakrishnan has also held leadership positions, including president of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in 2013-14, and co-chair of the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2014.

Despite being named in the complaint, there has been no immediate response from Gopalakrishnan or IISc regarding the allegations.

The Public Reaction and Surge in Search Interest

The case has garnered significant public interest, particularly following the registration of the FIR. According to Google Trends, there was a notable surge in searches for “Kris Gopalakrishnan” following the news of the case.

The highest search volumes came from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Jharkhand. The rising search interest highlights the widespread attention the case has attracted, particularly given Gopalakrishnan’s prominent role in India’s tech industry.

No Immediate Reaction from IISc

As of now, there has been no official statement from IISc or the accused faculty members regarding the allegations.

The case has sparked further interest in the ongoing issues related to caste discrimination within academic institutions in India.

It remains to be seen how the legal proceedings unfold and whether there will be any response from the institute or the accused individuals.

The case involving Kris Gopalakrishnan and other IISc officials highlights ongoing concerns about caste-based discrimination in academic institutions.

Durgappa’s allegations, particularly his claim of being wrongfully terminated and subjected to harassment due to his caste, raise serious questions about how such cases are handled in prestigious institutions.

The legal proceedings under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act will likely shed more light on the matter, and the case is expected to keep public attention focused on discrimination issues in Indian academia.