News Dispatches
Washington DC: Anurag Bajpayee, the Indian-origin CEO and co-founder of Gradiant, a US-based clean water technology company, was arrested earlier in 2025 in connection with a high-end brothel ring allegedly operating near Harvard University. Court documents from the Boston area named Bajpayee among several individuals accused of paying significant hourly rates—up to $600 for sexual services. The clients allegedly included top executives, doctors, lawyers, public officials and government contractors. Rich clients paid up to $600 an hour for sexual encounters at luxury apartments in Cambridge, Dedham, Watertown, and eastern Virginia.
The brothel network was busted in November 2023. “This commercial sex ring was built on secrecy and exclusivity, catering to wealthy and well-connected clientele,” former US Attorney for Massachusetts Joshua Levy said at the time.
Prosecutors allege that many of the women involved were Asian and victims of sex trafficking. Detailed client logs and communication records are central to the ongoing legal proceedings, which aim to expose the extent of the criminal enterprise.
Anurag Bajpayee is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Gradiant, a Boston-based company specialising in advanced water and wastewater treatment solutions. Born in India, Anurag Bajpayee has emerged as a prominent figure in the cleantech industry, steering Gradiant from its origins as a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) spinout in 2013 to a global leader valued at over $1 billion.
Under his leadership, the company addresses critical water challenges for industries such as semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, mining, and food and beverage, with operations spanning more than 25 countries and over 2,500 facilities.
Bajpayee's academic journey began at La Martiniere College in Lucknow, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2006. He then pursued advanced degrees at MIT, earning a Master of Science in 2008 and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering in 2012. His doctoral research focused on industrial desalination and water treatment, notably developing a membrane-free desalination technique recognized by Scientific American as one of the "Top 10 World-Changing Ideas."
Despite mounting criticism and calls for his resignation, Gradiant has publicly backed its CEO. The company released a statement, saying, “We believe in the justice system and are confident that this will resolve favorably in confident that this will resolve favorably in due course. Unrelated to this, Gradiant will continue to pursue excellence in technological innovation and to strive towards our mission to ensure clean water for all society.”
Bajpayee has been charged with a misdemeanor, as were dozens of others implicated in the investigation.
Meanwhile, the case remains under active investigation, with authorities continuing to examine the brothel’s client lists and the broader trafficking network.
