Apple Grants fraud detection on the eve of change of guard in USA bodes ill for Indians
American phone and laptop manufacturer, Apple, sacks many of its Telugu-speaking people of Indian origin employees for alleged scam in grant funds. Following this, the Telugu-speaking Indians are no longer the apple of the eye of the most prestigious American phone and laptop company – Apple – as it had to fire close to 200 people of Indian origin hailing from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for alleged malpractices in company’s corporate social responsibility schemes.
According to reports, Apple has sacked some 185 workers, most Telugu-speaking, for their alleged involvement in fraudulent grants scheme of CRS activities of the company. Reports brought out instances of collaboration between Apple employees and certain Telugu associations in the US to misuse Apple’s Grant Programme, with matching funds of donations misappropriated by the employees.
Now, it is shameful for the entire Telugu community and the two Telugu-speaking states that people originating from there working with such a prestigious company get involved in such an allegedly fraudulent practice that has shamed the huge Indian diaspora present in the USA and brought a bad name to Indians in general and for people hailing from these two states in particular. And coming on the eve of the American change of guard, as it were, is not only shameful but also dangerous as it presents an opportunity for the Make America Great Again activists with new strength to take on immigrants. Combined Andhra Pradesh was often described as the 51st state of the United States, given the penchant of a huge population to visit and settle down in the United States of America.
Why, Hyderabad also hosts a temple of Chilukuru Balaji, believed to “specialize” in “granting” Visas for America to his devotees. The Chilukuru Balaji temple is known as the Visa Bhagwan in Hyderabad and is visited by countless Visa-seekers, who believe prayers here ensure successful Visa application.
After the scandal of CSR irregularities broke out, now the American Federal investigating agencies are investigating the whole affairs, summoning for questioning representatives of a prominent Telugu association in the USA.
This was after many Apple employees, primarily Telugu-speaking individuals, were said to have colluded with a specific Telugu association based in the United States to exploit Apple’s CSR initiatives. The scheme involved soliciting donations from employees under the guise of supporting non-profit organizations, which Apple would then match dollar-for-dollar under its community engagement programmes.
Investigations so far reveal that these donations were allegedly manipulated, allowing funds to be redirected back to the employees after receiving matching grants from Apple. An internal review by Apple’s Finance department led to the discovery of these irregularities.
According to reports, Telugu associations solicited donations from Telugu-speaking individuals within Apple’s workforce, exploiting the company’s CSR matching grants as part of a larger scheme. The fraudulent activities came to light when Apple’s Finance department identified discrepancies in donation records and alerted authorities.
The sacking of the employees has led to concern within the tech community as well as the Telugu-speaking communities across the US, with most questioning how this could have happened in the first place.
Now this is not the best advertisement the two Telugu-speaking states or India would want to make just when America is about to witness a change in government with Donald Trump assuming the presidency in a few days on January 20. Especially the timing is ominous, with his strong supporters, Make America Great Again (MAGA) activists are seeking to restrict and deport many foreign immigrants they feel are snatching their jobs and livelihoods.
Already there is an element of hate against Indian communities in some circles, and there is suspicion of the presence of a few Telugu-speaking illegal immigrants in the list of some 18,000 people of Indian origin expected to be deported once President Trump assumes office.
Local leaders of Telugu Associations, like the Telugu Association of North America (TANA), are being seen with suspicion and are being investigated for the alleged Apple scam.
