Inside the Sridhar Vembu–Pramila Srinivasan Divorce Battle

Pramila Srinivasan, the US-based estranged wife of Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu, is at the centre of one of the most closely watched divorce cases involving an Indian technology entrepreneur. The proceedings, underway in a California court, have drawn attention for their scale, complexity, and potential implications for ownership and control of Zoho Corporation.

Born in New York on June 9, 1968, Srinivasan is an accomplished academic and entrepreneur. She holds a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering and built a career in healthcare technology, including ventures focused on electronic health records and digital health solutions. She also heads The Brain Foundation, a nonprofit supporting autism research and services.

Srinivasan married Vembu in 1993 after meeting him in the United States. The couple lived in California for nearly 30 years and have a son diagnosed with autism. Their private life remained largely out of public view until the marriage began to break down in recent years.

The divorce has since escalated into a high-stakes legal dispute involving marital asset protection, financial transparency, and Zoho’s ownership structure. A California court ordered Vembu to post a reported $1.7 billion bond to safeguard assets potentially subject to division, a move contested by Vembu and currently under appeal.

Srinivasan has alleged that Vembu relocated to India, filed for divorce, and transferred or restructured significant business interests without her consent—actions she says violate California’s community property laws. She has also stated that she supported the household financially for years so that Vembu could focus on building Zoho, and has questioned his claim during proceedings that he owns only about 5% of the company.

Vembu has denied the allegations, maintaining that he has supported his family and acted in good faith. He has also publicly criticized the bond order, prompting a sharp response from Srinivasan’s lawyer, who said court decisions cannot be overturned by attacking judges or by commentary on social media platform X.

In another twist, Vembu reportedly offered to transfer 50% of his Zoho stake to Srinivasan as part of a settlement. She declined, arguing that the proposal failed to address deeper concerns around valuation, control, and transparency in a privately held global firm.

As proceedings continue, the case has become a focal point for broader debates on spousal contribution, asset disclosure, and corporate ownership in privately owned technology companies, with significant legal, financial, and reputational stakes still unresolved.