Anurag Bajpayee, an Indian-origin CEO of a major US-based company, is currently in the spotlight due to a controversial case in Boston. Bajpayee, who is the co-founder and CEO of Gradiant, a billion-dollar wastewater treatment company, was recently arrested in connection with a high-end brothel operating out of luxury apartments near Harvard University.
As reported by various news outlets, the brothel charged as much as USD 600 an hour and maintained detailed records of its clients. These records are now at the center of a criminal investigation known as “The Cambridge Brothel Hearings”.
Prosecutors allege that Bajpayee was part of an elite group of clients that included doctors, lawyers, public officials, and government contractors. The investigation revealed that these individuals reportedly paid up to $600 per hour for encounters with predominantly Asian women, who were believed to be victims of sex trafficking.
Among them is Bajpayee, who is accused of visiting the brothel multiple times. He was arrested during a sting operation in early 2025 along with several other men in the Boston area, all facing misdemeanor charges.
Despite the ongoing legal case, Gradiant has expressed its support for Bajpayee. In a public statement, company spokesperson Felix Wang said that the company believes in the justice system and it is confident that this will resolve favorably in due course.
He also added that the company will continue to focus on its mission of providing clean water for society and driving innovation in the field of water treatment.
Bajpayee is known for his achievements in the field of environmental technology. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he focused on industrial desalination and water treatment. He also earned his master’s degree from MIT and graduated in 2008. His innovations in water treatment have earned him recognition, including being featured in Scientific American’s list of Top 10 World-Changing Ideas.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Bajpayee completed his schooling from La Martiniere College in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, graduating in 2003.
