Apple Fires Indian-Origin Employees for Alleged Misuse of Donation Plan

Apple has reportedly terminated several Indian-origin employees for allegedly misusing the company’s matching grants program. This program provides a matching donation for every financial contribution an employee makes to a qualified charity.

Alleged Misuse and Investigation
•    Some employees based in the US, working with specific charitable organizations, manipulated donation records to have funds returned to them.
•    Media outlets reported that 185 employees were affected, though Apple has not confirmed the figure.
•    The Telugu Association of North America (TANA) is under scrutiny by the FBI for its role in potential misuse of matching grants.

Legal Proceedings
•    A US district court issued a subpoena to TANA for grand jury testimony related to donation records.
•    Authorities demanded documentation of funds received, expenditures, and financial reports from 2019 to 2024.
•    The investigation also includes IRS and DOJ involvement, focusing on corporate social responsibility (CSR) matching grants.

Apple's Response & Industry Impact
Apple has not officially responded to the allegations yet. The case highlights potential loopholes in corporate donation programs and raises concerns about fraudulent misuse of CSR initiatives.