Telugu Techies Lose Jobs At Apple In CSR Scam

Bengaluru: Around 185 employees, allegedly Telugu speaking ones, have lost their jobs at iPhone maker Apple in the US for their involvement in a fraudulent grants programme. Reportedly, these employees have misused Apple’s Grant Programme in connivance with some Telugu associations in the North American country.

The story went like this. Some Telugu associations in the US regularly seek donations from Telugu-speaking people in the country. These organisations asked Telugu employees at Apple to donate to their non-profit groups, which many of them obliged with donations.

As part of corporate social responsibility (CSR) norms of Apple, the iconic telephone giant matched the donation amount given by its employees to these Telugu non-profit organisations. Though this transaction seemed very straight forward, investigations revealed otherwise. Reports showed that this was an elaborate scheme to dupe Apple. As part of this scam, funds donated by Telugu employees to these non-profit entities were funnelled back to them after they received matching donations from Apple.

Reportedly, Apple’s Finance department got a wind of such irregularities and reported the matter to IRS (Internal Revenue Service), US Upon investigation, IRS found out that these Telugu associations gamed the CSR regulations of Apple to get funds illegally and they had used Telugu employees as part of their network.

Subsequently, Apple reportedly asked those employees involved to either resign on grounds of compromised integrity or face termination.

Such action has affected about 185 employees of Apple, from senior manager level to entry-level executives. Reports said all these employees worked in Bay Area office of Apple. This incident has happened at a time when Apple has elevated Indian-origin Kevan Parekh as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Parekh took charge of Apple’s CFO effective from January 1, 2025.