Once considered a secret hustle, moonlighting has now become the centre of a heated debate across India’s corporate corridors. The case of Soham Parekh — a techie allegedly holding multiple full-time jobs in the US while working remotely from India — brought the issue into sharp focus. As questions of trust, contracts, and ethics swirl, one wonders: how did moonlighting morph from a modest side hustle into a national HR flashpoint?
A Glimmer in the Dark: Where It All Began
The word “moonlighting” originated in mid-20th century America — a poetic reference to workers who took on night shifts to earn extra income. Back then, it was mainly a blue-collar phenomenon, a survival strategy during tough economic times. In India, however, moonlighting remained on the fringes for decades, mostly due to an entrenched work culture that prized loyalty and long hours with a single employer.
Then came 2020. A global pandemic, a remote work revolution, and the rise of the gig economy sparked a dramatic shift. Suddenly, it was possible — and tempting — for professionals to juggle multiple jobs from the comfort of home. Two laptops, two Zoom calls, two salaries — all behind one screen.
From Gig Culture to Zoom-era Hustle
The roots of India’s moonlighting wave can be traced back to the West’s gig economy boom in the 2000s. As freelancing became mainstream globally, Indian tech workers began to test the waters. By the 2010s, a small section of developers quietly began taking up side gigs, coding for startups at night while holding down full-time jobs.
But it was COVID-19 that flipped the switch. Remote work made it harder for companies to track employees in real-time, and for many professionals, it became a golden opportunity to multiply income. Social media soon caught on. Memes of developers with “4 bosses and 3 paychecks” started trending, capturing the wild west of post-pandemic work culture.
When the Industry Fought Back
Moonlighting might have remained a side conversation — until major Indian IT firms fired warning shots.
In 2022, Wipro’s chairman Rishad Premji made headlines by calling moonlighting “cheating.” Infosys followed with a firm internal memo: no second jobs, or face termination. What was once a secret side gig became a nationwide talking point.
Then came the Soham Parekh scandal — a moment that set the internet, and boardrooms, ablaze.
The Soham Parekh Case: From Side Hustle to Multi-Million Scandal
Soham Parekh, a 23-year-old techie from India, allegedly held as many as six full-time remote jobs with various US-based companies — including Stanford University School of Medicine and high-profile startups like Revel and Truepill.
The revelation, based on records from the US Department of Labor and reported by Hindustan Times, shocked India’s tech world. His estimated annual earnings? Up to ₹5 crore — a sum that many engineers wouldn’t see in a decade.
Unlike freelancers or casual moonlighters, Parekh was reportedly holding full-time roles, each demanding full-time attention — a potential violation of exclusivity clauses in contracts. Legal experts flagged concerns ranging from breach of trust to outright fraud.
“Most US offer letters include a clause of duty and loyalty during working hours,” said Prof. Noah Zatz, a Harvard labour law expert. “Holding simultaneous full-time jobs may breach those expectations.”
Parekh’s case didn’t just break rules — it broke the illusion that remote work is immune to scrutiny.
Law vs Ethics: Is Moonlighting Really Wrong?
Legally, moonlighting in India falls into a grey zone. Many state-level labour laws, such as Maharashtra’s Shops and Establishments Act, don’t specifically bar second jobs — as long as work hours remain within limits.
However, most private companies add exclusivity clauses in contracts. This turns moonlighting into a contractual issue, not a criminal one.
But there’s more to it than just law. Ethically, opinions differ.
- Supporters say moonlighting encourages financial freedom, skill-building, and innovation.
- Critics argue it drains productivity, creates conflicts of interest, and betrays employer trust.
While NASSCOM called for employer protections, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) advocated for flexible policies instead of outright bans. Startups like Cred went a step further — openly allowing side gigs, provided they don’t conflict with core responsibilities.
Moonlighting Through History: An Old Idea, New Debate
Moonlighting isn’t new. During the Great Depression, American workers did it to survive. In Soviet-era Russia, it was a lifeline amid collapsing state wages. In India, schoolteachers and clerks often took on extra roles — as tutors, shopkeepers, or drivers — to make ends meet.
What’s changed is the nature of work and employer expectations. Today’s knowledge economy thrives on confidentiality and data integrity. Employers want “100% attention,” citing the risk of leaks, burnout, and divided loyalty.
At the same time, the rise of gig platforms and creator economies has made side income culturally acceptable, even desirable.
Beyond the Parekh Effect: What Lies Ahead?
Since the Parekh story went viral, companies have grown more vigilant. HR teams now use tech tools to track suspicious logins, IP address overlaps, and multiple remote access sessions. Some firms quietly scan LinkedIn profiles and freelance platforms for signs of second jobs.
Yet others — especially startups — see moonlighting as inevitable.
Cred founder Kunal Shah famously said, “Moonlighting is the future of work — if trust exists.” That mindset is gaining traction among young professionals seeking creative freedom and financial independence.
A Middle Path: Regulation or Rebellion?
India is now at a crossroads. As the country aims to become a trillion-dollar digital economy, the question is not whether moonlighting should be allowed — but how it should be managed.
Labour activists argue that low entry-level salaries and rising living costs are driving people to seek second incomes. Blanket bans, they warn, could backfire — pushing side gigs underground and damaging employer-employee trust.
The solution? Clear contracts, open dialogue, and flexible work models that balance freedom with accountability.
In Light or in Shadow?
The Soham Parekh episode is both a cautionary tale and a wake-up call. It reveals how fast the world of work is evolving — but also how our value systems around loyalty, trust, and fairness haven’t caught up.
As India’s workplace culture transforms, the challenge lies in embracing moonlight without casting shadows. Done right, moonlighting could empower a new generation of workers. Done wrong, it might dismantle everything built on mutual trust.
