📷 Image Credits: India Today
The Hinduja family, known as Britain’s wealthiest, expressed their shock and dismay at a Swiss court’s ruling that resulted in jail terms for some members. They have subsequently filed an appeal in a higher court to challenge the verdict convicting them of exploiting vulnerable domestic workers from India. The affected family members, including Kamal and Prakash Hinduja, their son Ajay, and his wife Namrata, who are Swiss nationals, emphasized that they have not faced any imprisonment, conviction, sentence, or detention.
Under Swiss law procedures, the family’s spokesperson highlighted that the lower court’s judgment is not final until affirmed by the highest adjudicating authority and that the presumption of innocence is crucial. They pointed out that the alleged complainants withdrew their complaints and stated that they were misled into signing statements they did not understand. The plaintiffs testified that the Hinduja family members treated them with respect, dignity, and like family.
The family’s legal team proclaimed that their clients have been cleared of all human trafficking charges and expressed their disappointment at parts of the court’s decision. They have filed an appeal, making the judgment not enforceable until the higher court ruling. The lawyers reiterated the importance of the presumption of innocence until final judgment.
During the trial, the prosecutors accused the family members of seizing passports, restricting workers from leaving the villa, and forcing them to work under harsh conditions. Allegations were also made that the workers were paid low wages in rupees in India, had difficulty accessing their banks, and were overshadowed by the family’s pet dog in terms of financial expenditure. However, the family’s legal team defended against these claims, affirming that the workers were treated respectfully and provided with accommodation.
The Hinduja family, according to ‘The Sunday Times Rich List,’ remains the UK’s wealthiest with an estimated wealth of GBP 37.196 billion. Their business empire spans across various sectors in 48 countries, including automotive, oil, banking, IT, healthcare, media, and real estate. Despite the legal challenges they are facing in Switzerland, the family continues to have confidence in the judicial process and remains optimistic that the truth will prevail.
