Bengaluru techie sues employer for leaving him stranded in Uganda, wins over Rs 3 lakh

The techie said that the company's managing director had conveyed all decisions, including the pay cut and extended stay, verbally without formal email communication, leaving him without written proof. (Image generated by AI)

A Bengaluru-based technical consultant has won a legal battle against his former employer for unpaid dues of Rs 3 lakh with 6 percent annual interest, a relieving letter, and his original educational certificates — all withheld after a contentious overseas assignment in 2019, Times of India reported.

Rakshith MV, a resident of ITI Layout, Papareddipalya, joined Locus IT Services Pvt Ltd in September 2016 and resigned in August 2020. He was deputed to a client project in Kampala, Uganda, in December 2019. The project ran into delays, and Rakshith alleged he was stranded there until July 2020 without financial or technical support, despite repeated requests.

He claimed his salary and allowances were arbitrarily halved during the extended stay, and the company continued deducting Rs 3,600 monthly towards provident fund contributions — which were never deposited. Additional expenses, including domestic travel and miscellaneous charges totalling Rs 3 lakh, were also not reimbursed.

Rakshith said all decisions — including the pay cut and extended stay — were conveyed verbally by the firm’s managing director, without formal email communication, leaving him without written proof.

According to the Times of India, after his resignation, Rakshith sent a legal notice in September 2021, which was returned “unclaimed.” He then filed a civil suit in January 2022, seeking reimbursement and release of his documents.

The company, represented by MD Rohith Kudukuli, denied the allegations and accused Rakshith of absconding mid-project. But, the additional city civil and sessions court, presided by judge Shivanand Maruti Jipare, ruled in Rakshith’s favour, ordering the firm to pay Rs 3 lakh with 6 percent annual interest and release his certificates.

The court observed that while the company proved Rakshith left the project site in Uganda without approval, it failed to justify withholding dues and documents — actions that had caused him “irreparable hardship” and jeopardised his career.