India, Feb. 19 -- An Indian-origin man has been convicted in the US for defrauding his employer of over $1.2 million (approximately Rs.11 crore) by hiring a lifelong friend for a high-paying role despite the individual being "unqualified".

According to the US Attorney's Office in Minneapolis, Karan Gupta, 47, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, ten counts of wire fraud, and one count of money laundering conspiracy.

The 47-year-old worked as a Senior Director at Optum, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group headquartered in Minnesota. At the peak of his career, Gupta earned an annual salary of more than $260,000 (around Rs.2.3 crore).

As per the press release, the scheme began in 2015, when Gupta recruited and ...