New Delhi, January 9, 2026

A high-profile divorce case involving Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has come into sharp public focus after a US court directed him to post a bond worth $1.7 billion, or around ₹15,278 crore. The order, passed by a California court, is linked to an ongoing legal battle between Vembu and his estranged wife, Pramila Srinivasan, and centres on disputes over marital assets, company ownership, and child-related responsibilities.

The development comes at a time when Vembu has been widely recognised in India for promoting indigenous technology and running Zoho from rural Tamil Nadu. While 2025 saw Zoho praised by political leaders for its “swadeshi” approach, the same year also witnessed Vembu locked in an intense legal fight in the United States.

According to reports, the court asked Vembu to furnish the bond as a protective measure to prevent any potential harm to Srinivasan’s claimed rights over marital assets. Under California law, assets acquired during a marriage are treated as jointly owned, even if they are held or transferred outside the US. The court reportedly described the order as unusual but said it was necessary given the circumstances of the case.

Sridhar Vembu and Pramila Srinivasan were married in 1993 after Vembu moved to the US for higher studies. An IIT-Madras graduate, he went on to pursue a PhD at Princeton University. In 1996, he co-founded a software company called AdventNet along with his brothers and a friend, which was later rebranded as Zoho Corporation in 2009. The couple lived in California for nearly 30 years and have a 26-year-old son, who has been diagnosed with autism.

In 2019, Vembu relocated to India and began managing Zoho from his ancestral village in Tamil Nadu. Divorce proceedings were initiated in 2021. In court filings, Srinivasan alleged that Vembu abandoned her and their son when he moved back to India. She has said she has been the primary caregiver for their child with special needs.

Srinivasan has also accused Vembu of transferring Zoho’s ownership stakes and intellectual property to India through complex financial arrangements without her knowledge or consent. She claimed that these transfers deprived her of a fair share of wealth created during the marriage. According to her filings, large portions of the company’s shares were placed with Vembu’s siblings. His sister Radha Vembu reportedly holds nearly 48% of the company, while his brother Sekar owns over 35%. Vembu himself is said to hold around 5%.

In her court statement, Srinivasan alleged that these transfers violated California’s community property laws. She argued that the assets were moved without any real payment and without informing her. Vembu has denied these accusations, calling them false, and has said that he continues to provide financial support to his wife and son.

In November 2024, Srinivasan filed an emergency application before the California court. In January 2025, the court ordered Vembu to post the $1.7 billion bond, stating that there were concerns over transparency in certain financial transactions. The court reportedly said the action was needed to safeguard Srinivasan’s interests during the divorce proceedings.

Following widespread media attention, Vembu’s lawyer, Christopher C. Melcher, responded publicly, saying the bond order was passed a year ago and was based on misleading claims. He stated that Vembu had already offered Srinivasan 50% of his shares in Zoho’s parent company, which she allegedly refused. Melcher also said the bond order was invalid, impossible to comply with, and is currently under appeal.

He further claimed the case was not about alimony and accused Srinivasan of prolonging the legal battle unnecessarily. Vembu himself has not made any public statement so far.

As the legal fight continues, the case remains closely watched due to the enormous financial stakes involved and Vembu’s prominent position in India’s technology landscape. The outcome is expected to have significant legal and financial implications in the months ahead.

 Zoho Founder Sridhar Vembu’s Divorce Case Draws Attention After US Court Orders ₹15,000 Crore Bond

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu is in the spotlight again, this time for his high-stakes divorce case in the US. A California court has directed him to post a $1.7 billion (around ₹15,278 crore) bond, citing concerns over transparency in financial transactions and potential prejudice to his estranged wife, Pramila Srinivasan. The case involves disputes over marital assets, Zoho ownership, and custody of their 26-year-old son, who has autism.

Vembu, an IIT-Madras graduate and Princeton PhD, co-founded Zoho (formerly AdventNet) in 1996 and moved to India in 2019 to run the company from his ancestral village in Tamil Nadu. Srinivasan, who managed the family and founded a healthcare startup and a non-profit for autism research, claims Vembu transferred company stakes to India without her knowledge, allegedly giving majority shares to his siblings. Vembu denies these claims, stating he has supported his wife and son financially and offered her half of his shares.

The court described the bond as “unprecedented” but necessary to protect Srinivasan’s rights. Vembu’s lawyer says the order is under appeal and calls the allegations false. The case remains closely watched for its financial and legal implications, highlighting the complex intersection of family law and high-value assets.