The Family Faces Charge
Britain’s richest family, Hindujas, who have an extremely diverse business empire across an abundance of industries and sectors, have been sentenced to four years and six months in prison by the Swiss Court. They have been charged with exploitation of workers and giving them unauthorizedemployment.
About the Hindujas
In 1914, The Hinduja Group was founded by Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja. He started his banking and trade business in British India. Their business was predominantly focused on the trade of goods between India and Iran. Their operations expanded on a global scale, and they made their entry into sectors like finance, telecommunications, real estate, IT, and media. The names of some popular companies associated with The Hinduja Group include Ashok Leyland, Gulf Oil International, and IndusInd Bank.
More Allegations
Four members of the billionaire family, Prakash Hinduja, his wife Kamal, their son Ajay, and daughter-in-law Namrata were previously charged with serious allegations of human trafficking, but in a recent hearing, those allegations have been cleared after certain legal proceedings held in Switzerland.
Gruesome Working Conditions
The family members confiscated the workers’ passports, forcing them to work at a millennial wage for exceedingly long hours. They were made to work roughly 18 hours a day and seven days a week, with no holidays in between. In addition to this, they prevented the workers from leaving the villa, and the workers who could only converse in Hindi were paid money to bank accounts that were inaccessible.
Allegations Denied
The legal team hired by the family denied the allegations and contended that the workers were not exploited, but rather treated with utmost respect and provided with decent accommodation. However, the court upheld the convictions. The family’s business manager, Najib Ziazi, was the fifth accused person in the case and received a suspended sentence of 18 months.