The spotlight is back on Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu after he addressed widespread misinformation regarding the company’s operations, data storage, and tax practices. In a detailed statement shared on social media, Vembu reaffirmed Zoho’s position as a “Made in India, Made for the World” company while clarifying doubts about its global business practices.
Taxes and global income
In his post, Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu emphasized that all Zoho products are developed in India and the company pays taxes on its global income within India. He highlighted that Chennai serves as the company’s global headquarters, while its operations span over 80 countries, including a significant presence in the United States.
“All our products are developed in India, our global headquarters is in Chennai, and we pay taxes in India on our global income,” Vembu wrote. This direct clarification comes after online speculation suggested Zoho may have been shifting operations and profits abroad.
Data storage transparency
One of the biggest concerns circulating online was related to customer data and privacy. Vembu addressed this directly, assuring users that data is stored in the country of origin. For Indian users, data is hosted domestically across data centers in Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai, with plans to expand to Odisha.
Globally, Zoho operates more than 18 data centers, each dedicated to the country or region it serves. According to Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu, this policy ensures compliance with jurisdictional requirements and reinforces trust in the company’s operations.
Independent infrastructure, no reliance on big tech
Vembu also explained that Zoho runs its services entirely on company-owned hardware and frameworks developed in-house. The firm relies on open-source technologies like Linux OS and Postgres databases, making it independent of global cloud giants such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
This approach, according to Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu, allows Zoho to maintain greater control over security, data privacy, and innovation.
Zoho Arattai app clarification
Addressing rumors about the Zoho Arattai app, Vembu confirmed that the messaging platform is self-hosted, with only minimal external switching services used to improve speed. Crucially, no user data is stored outside Zoho servers.
The Zoho Arattai app has been gaining popularity as a “Made in India” alternative to global messaging platforms, with growing government and public support. Union Minister Piyush Goyal recently praised the app, noting: “Nothing beats the feeling of using a Swadeshi product. So proud to be on Arattai, a Made in India messaging platform that brings India closer.”
This endorsement has helped boost confidence in the Zoho Arattai app, positioning it as a credible homegrown competitor in the messaging space.
Clarifying app store listings
Some misinformation also stemmed from the fact that Zoho developer accounts on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store displayed U.S. addresses. Vembu explained that these accounts were originally created by a U.S.-based employee for testing purposes and were never updated, dismissing suggestions of overseas ownership.
Government support for Zoho
The Indian government has openly supported Zoho’s initiatives. Alongside Piyush Goyal’s endorsement of the Zoho Arattai app, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently met with Vembu as part of the government’s drive to promote homegrown companies and strengthen India’s digital ecosystem.
For Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu, this recognition not only highlights Zoho’s contributions to India’s tech sector but also reflects a broader push for indigenous innovation.
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