Ukraine war: UK's Indian-origin minister grilled over wife's stake in Infosys & firm's Russia ops

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has led to questions being raised against an Indian-origin minister in the United Kingdom. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, who is the son-in-law of Infosys co-founder Narayan Murthy, was questioned about the Russia operations of the Indian IT company.

A Sky News journalist reportedly asked Rishi Sunak whether his wife has a stake in Infosys which operates offices in Moscow, and has a connection to the Alpha Bank in Russia's capital city. With regard to sanctions against Russia, the journalist asked Sunak, "Are you giving advice to others that you're not following in your own home?"

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The UK finance minister responded that he was giving answers regarding what he was responsible for as an elected politician, and his wife was not one. Sunak said, "We've put in place significant sanctions and all the companies we are responsible for are following those as they rightly should, sending a very strong message to Putin's aggression."

When asked if Infosys was also sending "strong message" against Russia, Sunak said that he did not know as he had "nothing to do" with the company.

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A spokesperson for the UK chancellor said Akshata Murty was "one of thousands of minority shareholders in the company and does not have any involvement in the operational decisions of the company." Murthy holds 0.91% equity in Infosys as per public record.

Infosys in statement has reiterated that it had a "small team of employees based out of Russia" that "services some of our global clients, locally". It however clarified by adding "We do not have any active business relationships with local Russian enterprises," and that it supports and advocates for peace between Russia and Ukraine".

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