Overview
- Previously unreported court records show a California judge in January 2025 ordered Vembu to post a $1.7 billion bond, appointed a receiver over multiple US Zoho entities and his personal assets, and paused a planned transfer of the US business to an entity owned by Tony Thomas.
- New coverage on January 8–9, 2026 brought the order to wider attention, placing fresh focus on Zoho’s ownership structure and the proposed US-entity restructuring that the court halted.
- Vembu’s attorney says the bond order is invalid, cannot be complied with, is on appeal, and that the receivership has been stayed.
- Pramila Srinivasan’s lawyer counters that no court has found the bond order invalid, says it remains in force, and cites the court’s public findings against Vembu.
- Court filings and reports describe disputed community‑property claims, alleged share and IP transfers to family and associates, and offers by Vembu of up to $150 million that fell short of the bond requirement.