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Indian H-1B worker sues Indian-origin CEO for exploitation
Vallabhaneni alleged that he was forced to pay his own wage and threatened to revoke his H-1B visa if he failed to comply.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Wed, 12, Nov 2025
- 02:41 EST
- 20
Representative image / Pexels
Amrutesh Vallabhaneni, an Indian-origin H-1B worker, has moved to court against his employer, Siri Software Solutions, and its owner, Pavan Tata, alleging exploitation and cheating.
Vallabhaneni alleged that he was forced to pay his own wage and was threatened with revocation of his H-1B visa if he failed to comply. In his complaint, he raised allegations of forced labor, labor trafficking, and withholding visa documents, according to a report by Breitbart News. He further argued that the incidents of exploitation are not limited to him or the company but are part of a larger, growing trend.
Jay Palmer, who assisted Vallabhaneni with the lawsuit, described the situation as a “Squid Game” for Indian workers in the U.S., where the desperate goal of staying in America forces them to endure exploitation and toxic workplace cultures driven by some Indian-origin CEOs.
Vallabhaneni studied in India, then obtained an F-1 student visa and a loan to attend a U.S. college in 2015. He later secured Optional Practical Training (OPT), worked at a New Jersey company, and in 2018 joined the firm he later sued, enticed by their promise of H-1B sponsorship.
The lawsuit claims the company broke labor laws by forcing him to pay his own salary for six months and failing to pay the required prevailing wage. Despite this, he couldn’t leave; the company allegedly threatened to revoke his H-1B visa if he didn’t comply. They dangled a green card promise but kept pressuring him to accept unfavorable terms, warning that refusal meant deportation.
The lawsuit said, “Despite being guaranteed a wage by the DOL, AV (Amrutesh Vallabhaneni) often barely had enough money for rent and living expenses for himself and his family. Because of the broken promises and inconsistent pay, his health insurance lapsed, he missed credit card payments, and he and his wife lacked access to needed healthcare. At one point, AV suffered a serious leg injury, but he couldn’t see a doctor.”
The lawsuit comes amid a heightened crackdown by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Project Firewall, an attempt by the Trump administration to address visa fraud and exploitation by companies hiring H-1B workers.
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