Who Is Anurag Bajpayee? The Indian-Origin CEO Arrested In US

Authorities arrested Anurag Bajpayee, the Indian-origin CEO of Gradiant, a clean-water startup, during a prostitution sting in the Boston area in early 2025. Authorities accused Anurag Bajpayee, along with dozens of others, of paying substantial amounts for services at high-end brothels involved in sex trafficking. Despite these allegations, Gradiant has publicly supported Bajpayee, expressing confidence in the legal process and reaffirming its commitment to technological innovation and clean water initiatives.

Prosecutors claim that Mr Bajpayee belonged to an exclusive group of clients, consisting of doctors, lawyers, public officials, and government contractors. The probe uncovered that these men allegedly shelled out as much as $600 hourly for meetings with mostly Asian women, who were purportedly ensnared in sex trafficking.

Despite calls for his resignation from some employees, his company, Gradiant, stood by him, issuing a statement expressing confidence in the justice system and affirming its commitment to its mission.

“We believe in the justice system and are confident that this will resolve favourably 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,” the company wrote in a statement.

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Anurag Bajpayee: From MIT Innovator to Cleantech Industry Leader

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, Mr 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.”

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