Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu ordered to post $1.7 billion bond in divorce case

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu ordered by California court to post $1.7B bond in divorce case; wife alleges secret transfer of Zoho shares, dispute ongoing

2025 proved to be a landmark year for Zoho Corporation and its founder Sridhar Vembu. While the homegrown software giant received strong endorsements from several government ministers, Vembu simultaneously found himself entangled in a high‑founded AdventNet with his brothers and friend Tony Thomas, which was rebranded as Zoho Corporation in 2009. The couple lived in California for nearly three decades and have a son diagnosed with autism.

In 2019, Vembu relocated to his ancestral village in Tamil Nadu to run Zoho from India. Divorce proceedings began in 2021, with Srinivasan accusing him of abandoning her and their son.

Allegations and Counterclaims

Srinivasan has alleged that Vembu secretly transferred Zoho shares and intellectual property to India through complex transactions, placing majority ownership with his siblings Radha and Shekhar Vembu. Radha reportedly holds 47.8% of Zoho, Shekhar 35.2%, while Vembu himself retains only 5%. She claims these transfers violated California’s community property laws, which treat assets acquired during marriage as jointly owned.

In court filings, Srinivasan accused her husband of ‘fictitious transfers’ designed to deprive her of rightful assets. Vembu has rejected the allegations as ‘completely fictitious,’ insisting he has continued to support his wife and son financially.

Also Read: Midnight Blinkit delivery in Chennai turns lifesaver, rider stops woman from taking extreme step

Court Order and Legal Response

The California court criticized Vembu for a lack of transparency in financial dealings and acting ‘without regard for the law.’ His lawyer, Christopher C. Melcher, countered that Srinivasan’s legal team misled the judge with false claims. He further stated that Vembu had offered 50% of his Zoho shares to his wife, but she declined to accept them.

The case, involving child custody and division of marital property, remains ongoing. With the massive bond order now in place, the dispute underscores the complex intersection of family law and corporate ownership in one of India’s most successful tech companies.

Also Read:Kashmiri man detained for attempting namaz inside Ram temple premises in Ayodhya