**Title: Key Witness in Cognizant Case Faces Uncertainty Ahead of US Trial**
The case revolves around allegations that two former executives of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. facilitated illicit payments through Larsen and Toubro Ltd to unnamed Indian government officials. With less than five weeks until the trial begins on March 3, 2025, it remains uncertain whether Srimanikandan Ramamoorthy, identified as the US government’s “essential witness,” will be able to testify.
Ramamoorthy, a 51-year-old resident of Chennai, is considered crucial to the proceedings, as he is reportedly the only individual who discussed the alleged $2 million bribe with both L&T executives and former Cognizant officials. Court documents indicate that Ramamoorthy signed a non-prosecution agreement with US authorities in January 2019 and has since become a cooperating witness. He has provided emails, some addressed to L&T executives, including current chairman S.N. Subrahmanyan, outlining the orchestration of the bribe payments.
Subrahmanyan was leading L&T’s construction division in 2014 when it is alleged that certain employees paid $2 million in bribes to Tamil Nadu government officials to expedite approvals for Cognizant’s office campuses in Chennai. A complaint from the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption department of Tamil Nadu highlights the “active connivance” of K. Kannan, M.V. Satish, and Subrahmanyan in engaging a third-party consultant to deliver the bribe to officials from the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and the Housing and Urban Development department.
A dossier reviewed includes Ramamoorthy’s request to the Enforcement Directorate, dated December 26, seeking permission to travel to the US for five weeks. He is under investigation by the agency, along with Subrahmanyan and seven other executives. If the trial proceeds in March 2025, the US government’s case and Ramamoorthy’s anticipated testimony are expected to contradict Subrahmanyan’s statements, potentially leading to significant implications for his reputation.