In a dramatic turn of events that has captured attention across India’s tech community, Prasanna, a prominent entrepreneur and co-founder of the $10 billion company Rippling, finds himself in an extraordinary situation – evading Chennai police and seeking refuge outside Tamil Nadu with his young son.
Who is Prasanna Sankar?
Born and raised in Chennai, Prasanna Sankar spent his formative twenty years in the coastal city before attending NIT Trichy, where he met his future wife, Dhivya. Distinguished as India’s top-ranked coder, Prasanna’s technical prowess eventually led him to the United States, where he established himself as a successful technology entrepreneur.
Marriage breakdown and allegations
After a decade of marriage and raising their now 9-year-old son together, Prasanna’s relationship with Dhivya deteriorated when he reportedly discovered evidence of her six-month affair with a man named Anoop. According to Prasanna, Anoop’s wife provided him with messages and hotel booking confirmations that revealed the relationship.
The situation escalated during divorce negotiations. When discussions about financial settlements stalled, Prasanna claims Dhivya filed multiple police complaints against him, including allegations of physical assault, rape, and distribution of explicit videos—all of which he vehemently denies. According to Prasanna, Singapore authorities investigated these claims and found them to be without merit.
International custody battle
The divorce proceedings became increasingly complex when Prasanna filed in India while Dhivya initiated separate proceedings in the United States, allegedly seeking more favorable financial terms. The situation intensified when Dhivya reportedly took their son to the United States, prompting Prasanna to file an international child abduction case. Prasanna states that a U.S. judge ruled in his favor, ordering the child’s return.
Memorandum of Understanding and its aftermath
Facing legal challenges in Singapore, Dhivya reportedly negotiated with Prasanna to return to Chennai. They signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that stipulated Prasanna would pay approximately 9 crores rupees plus monthly payments of 4.3 lakhs, with both parents sharing custody of their son equally.
A key provision of the agreement required Dhivya to deposit their son’s passport in a common locker to prevent another international departure. When she allegedly refused to comply and threatened to return to the U.S. for divorce proceedings, Prasanna sought court intervention and retained custody of their son until the passport was secured.
Current situation
The conflict escalated dramatically when Dhivya filed a kidnapping complaint against Prasanna. Police attempted to apprehend him at his hotel, but he managed to escape with his son. He claims to have immediately communicated with authorities through his lawyers, explaining that his son was voluntarily in his care and that the matter was already before the courts.
Despite this, Prasanna reports that Chennai police continued their pursuit, visiting his mother’s residence and pressuring his friend Gokul, who had assisted with picking up the child. According to Prasanna, when Gokul fled to Bangalore, officers detained him without formal charges and have held him for three days without producing him before a magistrate, using him as leverage to secure Prasanna’s surrender.
Prasanna alleges that authorities are tracking his movements through his mobile phone location, car, UPI transactions, and IP addresses—all without a formal FIR (First Information Report). He claims police have threatened his friend to pressure him into removing his social media posts about the situation.
Looking forward
Prasanna has indicated his intention to file legal documents on Monday to prevent harassment and to address the matter through proper judicial channels. Meanwhile, he states that his entire family has left Tamil Nadu to avoid police action, and he assures supporters that his son remains safe and content in his care.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Prasanna maintains a resilient outlook: “I’m feeling the most alive right now and it’s great. I built an empire from nothing. I can handle this even if a state is on the other side. I’m a survivor not a victim.”
Note: This article is based on information shared by Prasanna through his Twitter account (@myprasanna). The allegations and claims presented reflect his perspective and have not been independently verified.