India Inc rallies behind Rajat Gupta as trial begins in the US

India Inc has expressed its support for Rajat Gupta, former director of Goldman Sachs, who is facing trial in one of the world's most high-profile insider cases, some showering praises and others vowing to stand by him in this hour of crisis.

''I remember the many conversations he had over the last 10 years about doing something to improve the state of healthcare in India. He felt that there was little attention being paid to prevention and so he had come up with the idea of creating a public private partnership in the social area, an idea that had never been done in India,'' Mukesh Ambani, India's richest man, said in a blog post.

''I respect Rajat for his selfless dedication and humility and he will always be a friend of mine,'' Ambani added.
 
Gupta, who was arrested in 2011 by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) on insider trading charges, was put on trial in a Manhattan court on Monday.

The case, expected to last for about three weeks, is likely to see investment guru Warren Buffet, Arcelor Mittal chairman Lakshmi Mittal, Berkshire Hathaway reinsurance chief Ajit Jain and Goldman chief executive Lloyd Blankfein as witnesses.

Pramod Bhasin, non-executive vice chairman of Genpact and chairman, The Skills Academy, says he is proud to call Rajat Gupta a ''friend'', adding, ''I have never known anyone else as well respected and connected as Rajat across the globe''.

''…as friends we will stand by him and see him come through it (trial),'' Bhasin said. The posts were pinned upon blog, www.friendsofrajat.com.