Former Amadeus Executive Faces Charges for €8 Million Source Code Theft in Bengaluru
In a significant case of corporate data theft, a former senior executive of Amadeus Software Labs India Private Limited has been formally booked by the Whitefield CEN Crime police in Bengaluru. The individual is accused of stealing proprietary source code and confidential company data valued at nearly €8 million, equivalent to approximately ₹72 crore.
Details of the Alleged Data Breach
The accused, identified as Ashutosh Nigam, previously served as a senior manager and research scientist at the company's office located in Prestige Tech Park, Kadubeesanahalli. According to police reports, Nigam allegedly gained unauthorized access to the company's internal systems on October 11 of last year.
During this unauthorized access, he is said to have transferred critical source code and other confidential data to his personal email account without obtaining proper consent from the organization. The First Information Report (FIR) in this case was officially registered on January 23, marking the formal beginning of the legal proceedings.
Impact on the Company and Legal Framework
The complaint filed by Amadeus Software Labs states that the exfiltration of the source code has caused severe financial loss to the company while simultaneously compromising its intellectual property rights. Company representatives emphasized that this breach represents more than just data theft—it threatens the fundamental competitive advantages and proprietary technology that form the backbone of their operations.
Internal monitoring systems within the company detected the suspicious activity, leading to the discovery of the breach. Following this detection, company officials confronted Nigam about the unauthorized access and data transfer. According to the complaint, Nigam reportedly admitted to the actions during this confrontation.
Employment Termination and Legal Charges
As a direct consequence of these events, Ashutosh Nigam's employment with Amadeus Software Labs was terminated on December 3. The company has pursued legal action against him, resulting in charges being filed under multiple sections of the Information Technology Act of 2000.
Specifically, the case has been registered under Sections 65, 66, and 66(C) of the IT Act, which cover various aspects of computer-related offenses including data theft, unauthorized access to computer systems, manipulation of digital records, and fraudulent exploitation of company resources.
Background of the Accused and Company Context
Ashutosh Nigam, a resident of Prestige Shantiniketan Apartments on IPTL Road in Bengaluru, originally hails from Saketh Nagar in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. His professional journey with Amadeus began on February 1, 2020, following the company's asset purchase agreement with Innovative Scheduling LLC.
This case highlights the growing challenges that technology companies face in protecting their intellectual property in an increasingly digital business environment. The substantial valuation of the stolen data—approximately €8 million—underscores the significant financial stakes involved in protecting proprietary technology and trade secrets.
As the legal process moves forward, this incident serves as a cautionary tale for organizations about the importance of robust internal security measures and monitoring systems to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive corporate information.
