Former Indian techie at Intel sentenced to two years’ probation and ₹30 lakh fine for sharing thousands of files with Microsoft

A former Intel engineer who illegally shared the company’s confidential documents with Microsoft has been sentenced to two years of probation and fined over $34,000, according to TOI. The sentencing was handed down last week to Varun Gupta, who had worked at Intel for nearly ten years as a product marketing engineer. He was later dismissed from his senior role at Microsoft after the misconduct came to light.

According to Assistant US Attorney William Narus, Gupta transferred thousands of confidential files from his Intel-issued computer to a personal hard drive before resigning from the company in 2020. TOI reported that he subsequently accessed those files and used them while representing Microsoft in negotiations with Intel, particularly in a deal involving computer processors.

One of the documents Gupta accessed was a PowerPoint presentation that detailed Intel’s pricing strategy with a major customer. “Not only did the defendant take proprietary materials with him, he also used those materials during negotiations against his prior employer,” Narus said in a sentencing memo, as quoted by TOI.

Prosecution sought jail term to deter industry misconduct

In the memo, Narus had pushed for an eight-month prison sentence, arguing it would serve as a deterrent in a high-turnover industry such as technology, where the misuse of confidential information poses a recurring risk.

Defense highlighted personal and professional consequences

Gupta’s attorney, David Angeli, argued that his client had already faced significant consequences, including losing his high-level job at Microsoft, settling a civil lawsuit with Intel for $40,000, and suffering irreparable reputational damage that had effectively ended his tech career.

In a statement to the court, Gupta expressed regret for his actions and apologised to Intel, Microsoft, and the government for the time and resources spent due to his "bad decision."

A new life away from the tech sector

Following the incident, Gupta relocated his family to France and left the technology industry altogether. He is now studying vineyard management and plans to pursue a career in the wine industry.


(With inputs from TOI)