Opinion | Infosys needs to manage the contradictions within

It is eminently possible that the unfortunate affair at Infosys may end up being no more than a ghost in the night that melts away in the morning. Its clarificatory note to stock exchanges stating that “there is no prima facie evidence that the company has received until date to corroborate any of the allegations made”, though not completely reassuring, indicates that 45 days after the allegations were made, they have yet to be supported by solid proof.

Unfortunately, even if the charges are eventually found to be unfounded, Infosys still has a lot to worry about. For one, the very thought of senior people walking around the company’s corridors recording sensitive conversations between its leaders is so alarming an occurrence that it should be the first issue to be investigated, not with reprisal in mind, but with the objective of uncovering what could have created such a climate of mistrust within its ranks. This must be particularly galling for a leader such as Nandan Nilekani, who is known for accessibility, and under whom the company created a culture of openness that ought to have allowed an aggrieved or concerned employee to walk into his room and ask for an explanation.