Water company CEO caught paying for illegal services
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A prominent wastewater treatment executive is facing legal troubles after being caught in a prostitution sting, while his company maintains an awkward stance of support amid the growing scandal.
Anurag Bajpayee, CEO of clean water startup Gradient, was among dozens of men arrested in early 2025 on misdemeanor charges in the Boston area. Court documents released last month reveal the men allegedly paid hundreds per hour for sexual services and “girlfriend experiences” with trafficked Asian women, according to Wall Street Journal reporting.
🇺🇸CLEAN TECH, DIRTY SECRETS: GRADIANT CEO LINKED TO HIGH-END BROTHEL
Anurag Bajpayee, once hailed for “world-changing” water tech, was named in a prostitution sting tied to a $600/hour high-end brothel near Harvard.
Clients — biotech execs, lawyers, and politicians — handed… https://t.co/buMdqSArBF pic.twitter.com/KPpPOFMTLw
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 8, 2025
In response to the allegations, Gradient issued a peculiar statement expressing faith in both legal proceedings and their corporate mission.
“We believe in the justice system and are confident that this will resolve favorably in due course. Unrelated to this, Gradiant will continue to pursue excellence in technological innovation and to strive towards our mission to ensure clean water for all society,” the company stated to the Journal.
The arrest marks a stark contrast to Bajpayee’s previous status as a celebrated figure in water treatment innovation, having earned recognition in Scientific American’s annual Top 10 World-Changing Ideas list.
Anurag Bajpayee was allegedly a frequent client at a high-end brothel in Boston.
Billion-dollar tech firm stands by disgraced CEO exposed for frequenting high-end brothel in Bostonhttps://t.co/6YYMwer84o
— ⧉ TechForcePros Capital 🚀 (@Small_Cap_Tech) April 8, 2025
Unlike Bajpayee, other prominent figures implicated in the sting are facing intense public backlash. Cambridge City Councilor Paul Toner, who was also named in court documents, is experiencing mounting pressure to step down from his position despite issuing an apologetic statement.
“I caused pain for the people I care about most. For that, I will be forever sorry. This is an ongoing legal matter, and I will not have further comment at this time,” Toner said.
Prosecutors revealed that the clientele included various elite figures, from government contractors to professors, who allegedly visited brothels operating out of luxury apartments across Cambridge, Watertown, Mass., and Washington, D.C. suburbs. The operation reportedly offered exclusive monthly memberships to its most regular customers.
