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Introduction: When Tech Talent Crosses Ethical Lines
In the fast-paced world of Silicon Valley, engineers are often praised for juggling multiple complex projects, but what happens when that multitasking crosses ethical boundaries? The recent revelations surrounding Indian software engineer Soham Parekh have sparked a heated debate across the tech world. Accused of moonlighting across several U.S. startups simultaneously, Parekhâs case has taken an even darker turnâwith accusations of emotional manipulation and deceit amid geopolitical conflict. His story isnât just about overemployment; it raises deeper questions about trust, transparency, and exploitation in the modern startup ecosystem.
the Original
Soham Parekh, an Indian software engineer, has landed in hot water for allegedly moonlighting across several American startups at the same time. The situation intensified when Arkadiy Telegin, CTO of the AI firm Leaping AI, publicly accused Parekh of emotional manipulation during “Operation Sindoor,” a period of military tension in the region. Telegin shared screenshots on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), claiming Parekh falsely implied he was in a war zone by messaging at 2:29 a.m. about a drone being shot down â10 minutes awayâ from his home. In reality, Parekh was living safely in Mumbai, India.
Telegin wrote that Parekh would guilt-trip him for slow pull request reviews, invoking his supposed location in a conflict zone to gain sympathy. In a sarcastic comment, he even suggested someone should hire Parekh as a âChief Intelligence Officerâ for his manipulative tactics.
The scandal deepened as multiple startup founders revealed they had also unknowingly hired Parekh. Flo Crivello (Lindy), Matthew Parkhurst (Antimetal), Nicolai Ouporov (Fleet AI), and Adish Jain (Mosaic) confirmed he had worked for their companiesâoften at the same time. Notably, Parekh had performed brilliantly during interviews, making it difficult to suspect his overcommitment.
Eventually, Parekh confessed to the allegations in an interview with TBPN. He admitted to working multiple full-time jobs at once, citing financial hardship rather than greed as the motivation. “I’m not proud of what I’ve done,” he stated. “No one really likes to work 140 hours a week, but I had to do it out of necessity.” He further revealed his introverted nature and personal struggles, explaining that moonlighting seemed like the quickest path out of economic difficulty.
What Undercode Say:
Soham Parekhâs case is far more than a simple violation of workplace ethicsâitâs a cautionary tale about the darker pressures lurking beneath the surface of tech’s glamorous façade. His story speaks volumes about the intersection of desperation, deception, and the demands of modern startup culture.
From a corporate perspective, startups, especially in Silicon Valley, are often in a mad rush for talent. They hire aggressively, sometimes without rigorous background checks, especially when candidates show strong performance during interviews. Parekh appears to have exploited that blind spot. His technical competence masked his operational duplicity, allowing him to juggle multiple high-responsibility roles undetectedâfor a time.
The emotional manipulation allegations are especially troubling. Teleginâs claim that Parekh invoked a military conflict to excuse delays in his work adds a psychological layer to the deception. If true, this goes beyond unethical moonlighting and enters the realm of intentional exploitation of empathy and global events. In a world where mental health and workplace empathy are finally gaining recognition, weaponizing these sentiments is a serious red flag.
On the human side, Parekhâs explanation does deserve some contemplation. He described intense financial stress and isolation, leading him to take on an unsustainable workload. This reflects a growing global issueâyoung tech professionals often lack safety nets, mentorship, or clear financial guidance. Especially for international workers trying to break into elite ecosystems, the pressure to deliver and survive can push them into morally gray decisions.
Still, this is not a case where intention absolves action. Working 140 hours per week across startups not only dilutes productivity but can directly impact the progress of small, high-stakes companies. Founders rely heavily on trust and agility. When one person holds multiple critical roles, it creates bottlenecks, broken timelines, and eventually erodes the collaborative trust foundational to startup success.
The lesson here is twofold: startups need better due diligence systems, and the tech world must acknowledge the mental and financial strain it places on its workforce. The solution isnât just tighter contractsâitâs cultural reform. Leaders must promote transparency, build safe reporting channels, and foster environments where employees can voice their concerns without fear of stigma or dismissal.
Meanwhile, Parekh’s story is a reminder that personal hardship doesn’t justify professional deception. The boundary between hustling and harming others must be clearly drawn.
đ Fact Checker Results:
â
Verified: Soham Parekh publicly admitted to moonlighting at multiple startups.
â
Verified: Screenshots of his messages were posted by Arkadiy Telegin on X.
â Misinformation: There was no verified threat or active war zone near Mumbai during Operation Sindoor.
đ Prediction:
With this case making rounds online, expect startupsâespecially in the U.S.âto implement stricter employee monitoring and cross-reference checks to prevent moonlighting. Tools like GitHub activity tracking, mandatory transparency agreements, and IP-based location confirmations may become standard. Meanwhile, future candidates with overseas addresses may face added scrutiny, which could unfairly impact legitimate workers. On a broader scale, this controversy may spur discussion about mental health and economic instability within tech, potentially influencing HR policies globally.
References:
Reported By: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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