Whistleblower Claims Cover-Up at TCS
Anil Kini, a former IT manager at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), has alleged that executives at the Indian IT giant instructed him to falsify internal organizational charts to create the illusion of a manager-heavy workforce. Speaking to Bloomberg, Kini claimed the move was aimed at avoiding federal scrutiny over TCS’s use of employment visas, particularly L-1A manager visas.
Kini, along with two other former TCS employees, filed lawsuits under the federal False Claims Act, alleging that TCS misused L-1A visas to bring in frontline workers who had no managerial responsibilities. Unlike H-1B visas, which have specific pay requirements, L-1A visas are easier to obtain and come with fewer restrictions. While all three lawsuits were dismissed before trial, Kini’s case remains on appeal.
TCS’s Visa Practices & Trump’s Changing Stance
When Donald Trump first took office in 2017, his administration was vocal against skilled-worker visas, arguing they displaced American workers. Kini alleges that during that period, TCS executives adjusted organizational structures to align with their visa applications, anticipating federal inspections.
However, despite Trump’s anti-immigration rhetoric, a broad crackdown on employment visas never materialized. More recently, Trump has softened his stance, stating in December that he has “always liked the visas”—a shift that has drawn criticism from his MAGA base while earning support from tech leaders like Elon Musk.
Federal Data Suggests Possible Discrepancies
According to Bloomberg, federal data indicates that TCS secured significantly more L-1A visas than the number of managers it reported to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The company has consistently led in obtaining these visas, raising concerns about potential misuse.
TCS Denies Allegations
TCS has firmly rejected the claims, stating:
The company declined to comment further, emphasizing that courts have already dismissed these allegations.
However, experts note that L-1A visa misuse is a well-documented issue, with nearly 200 cases of fraud reported over the past decade.
As Kini’s appeal moves forward, the controversy over skilled-worker visas continues to fuel the ongoing debate on immigration and employment policies in the US.
