Rippling Cofounder Prasanna Sankar's Custody Battle with Estranged Wife Sparks Global Controversy:

A complex international custody and abuse dispute involving Rippling cofounder Prasanna Sankar and his estranged wife, Dhivya Sashidhar, has drawn widespread attention. Court documents, emails, and exclusive interviews, including those reported by the San Francisco Standard, reveal troubling allegations of emotional abuse, surveillance, and financial manipulation.

In March, Sankar—whose net worth is estimated at $1.3 billion—publicly accused Sashidhar of abduction and infidelity via X (formerly Twitter). However, documents submitted in court paint a far more complicated picture.

From Academic Achievements to Tech Fame and Marital Strain

The couple, both top students in India, married in 2013. Sankar went on to cofound HR tech firm Rippling in 2017, while Sashidhar gave up her career to care for their child. She now alleges emotional neglect, coercion, and control within the marriage.

Testimony and email evidence suggest Sankar pressured her into painful sex after childbirth and explored extramarital arrangements, including escort services. One email features Sankar admitting to contacting escorts and offering an apology.

Financial Moves and International Displacement

After stepping down from Rippling in 2020, Sankar reportedly shifted his family across multiple jurisdictions—from California to Washington, then Singapore, and finally India—allegedly to reduce tax exposure. Court testimony supports claims that Sashidhar was financially dependent and lost her job at Microsoft during the Singapore stay.

She further alleges surveillance, stating that Sankar installed hidden cameras in their homes, including in a bathroom shared by their son. Sankar admitted in court that this was due to suspicions about her fidelity.

Domestic Violence, Legal Orders, and a Child Caught in the Middle

In late 2023, Sashidhar returned to the U.S. with their son and secured a domestic violence restraining order. Sankar countered by invoking the Hague Convention, claiming wrongful removal. A U.S. court ruled that Singapore was the child’s habitual residence and ordered the child’s return.

Later in India, both parties agreed to a divorce and custody settlement, which included $1 million to Sashidhar and joint custody. However, after entrusting the child to Sankar in March, Sashidhar claims he has not returned their son.

Sankar has denied many of her allegations and stated he is willing to return the child if the boy’s passport is secured in a joint-access locker to prevent unilateral travel.

Sashidhar Faces Life Alone Amid Media Attention

Now without her child or career, Sashidhar remains in the spotlight due to the viral fallout from her billionaire husband's social media disclosures. She told the court, “My identity is lost somewhere… It’s left me, like, scrambling for life.”