India’s biggest philanthropist billionaire, Azim Premji has been charged with two separate criminal cases.
These cases, as per the directions of a Bengaluru court, are for alleged criminal breach of trust and corruption.
Azim Premji Accused Of Criminal Breach of Trust And Corruption
Special Judge under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) Lakshminarayana Bhat K has stated that a prima facie case has been lodged against Azim Premji, his wife, and PV Srinivasan.
This has been confirmed by a report in Bar and Bench.
The complaint has been filed by a non-profit India Awake for Transparency. It alleges that Premji and the other accused have committed offenses under Sections 13(1)(d) (public servant obtaining pecuniary advantage) with 13(2) (punishment for criminal misconduct by a public servant) of the PCA and Sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant) and 120B (Punishment of criminal conspiracy) read with Section 34 (acts done by several persons with common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.
As per the order, “It is made out from the materials placed on record that the accused No.1 to 3 were performing the public duty and therefore they are public servants. There are sufficient materials to proceed against the accused in both the complaints for the offence punishable under section 13(1)(d) of the PC Act and Sections 409 and 120B read with section 34 of the Indian Penal Code.”
Premji Took Advantage Of High Position
As per reports, the complainant has also accused that Premji and the others exploited their positions as directors of the three companies, Vidya Investment and Trading Company Pvt. Ltd, Regal Investment and Trading Company Private Limited, and Napean Trading and Investment Company Private Limited.
They removed 21.3 crore equity shares of Wipro (worth Rs 9260.18 crores as on the date of removal) held by the three companies and transferred them to the Azim Premji Trust.
Last year, we reported that as per the latest ranking of the most influential philanthropist billionaires by Hurun, it was revealed that Wipro founder Azim Premji is right now India’s #1 philanthropist.
In the last one year, he donated a whopping Rs 27 crore/day, highest in India.
Overall, he donated Rs 9713 crore in the last 12 months.
He increased his donations by 23% year on year, even as the pandemic fund was increased to Rs 2125 crore from Rs 1125 crore a year earlier.