In a dramatic twist to an already publicized divorce, Divya Sashidhar, estranged wife of Rippling co-founder Prasanna Shankar, has made serious allegations against him in an interview with the San Francisco Standard. She accused Shankar of forcing her into sex shortly after childbirth, pressuring her into an open relationship, and using hidden cameras to spy on their home.
“He pressured me into agreeing to an open relationship and forced me to have sex soon after our child was born,” Divya alleged. She also claimed that Shankar lured prostitutes and took her and their son on multiple international trips. According to her, Shankar moved the family from California to Washington in 2020 to avoid taxes.
The controversy escalated when Shankar, who has a net worth of $1.3 billion, posted alleged screenshots of Divya’s affair with Anoop Kuttisankaran on social media. The posts included suggestive messages and hotel bookings, drawing massive online attention. “My wife Divya and I were married for 10 years. When I found out that she was having an affair, our marriage broke up,” Shankar wrote.
In response, Divya claimed the screenshots were fabricated. Her legal team acknowledged emotional exchanges with Anoop but denied any physical relationship. “She sacrificed her career for Shankar and endured years of emotional and physical abuse,” her lawyer stated.
The legal battle has also involved their 9-year-old son. While Shankar accuses Divya of kidnapping, she maintains that filing for divorce in the U.S. was necessary for legal protection, not financial gain. The couple’s decade-long marriage, which began during their time at NIT Trichy, now faces a highly public and painful disintegration.
