Former executives sue Twitter for over $1 Million in expenses, Twitter responds with poop emoji
San Francisco: Former Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal and two other top executives who were terminated by Elon Musk last year have filed a lawsuit on Monday, seeking reimbursement for expenses related to litigation, investigations, and congressional inquiries connected to their former roles.
The executives, who served as the company's former chief legal and financial officers, assert that they are entitled to more than $1 million in compensation, and that Twitter has a legal obligation to pay them.
In response to an AFP request for comment, Twitter followed its tradition of using a poop emoji. The recent court filing lists a variety of expenses incurred as a result of inquiries by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), but lacks specifics about the investigations, including whether they are ongoing or not.
Court documents reveal that Agrawal and former chief financial officer Ned Segal testified to the SEC last year and have remained in communication with federal authorities. The SEC is conducting an investigation to determine whether Elon Musk followed securities regulations while accumulating Twitter shares.
After Elon Musk's release of the "Twitter Files" related to content moderation on the platform, former Twitter chief legal officer Vijaya Gadde was summoned to participate in a US congressional hearing concerning big tech and free speech. Additionally, the court documents stated that Gadde was sued by an individual who claimed to have been "doxed" on Twitter as a white supremacist. Gadde was listed as a defendant in the lawsuit.
Elon Musk fired Parag Agrawal, Vijaya Gadde, and Ned Segal from their positions after his contentious $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in late October. The trio of former executives maintain that Twitter is obligated to reimburse them according to their agreements, but the company has only acknowledged receiving their invoices and taken no further action, according to their claim.
Upon assuming control of Twitter, Elon Musk rapidly reduced the number of employees, leading to concerns about the platform's stability and its capacity to combat misinformation and other forms of abuse. Additionally, allegations have surfaced claiming that Twitter has failed to pay rent and other bills, in accordance with Musk's commitment to "slash costs relentlessly."
As Elon Musk reduces moderation efforts on Twitter, market analysts report that advertising revenue has dropped sharply due to concerns about the proliferation of misinformation and hateful content on the platform.
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NIA registers case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal
New Delhi (PTI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday registered a case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal, officials said.
The move came following a directive by the Union Home Ministry in this regard, they said.
In pursuance to the home ministry's order, the anti-terror agency on Sunday registered a case, which was originally filed at Uttar Kashi police station, Bhangar division, Kolkata on Saturday, and took up the investigation, an NIA spokesperson said in a late night statement.
"The case pertains to recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata police, which were being stored at a spot, thereby endangering human life and property," the spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had directed the West Bengal Police to launch a special drive to arrest those involved in illegal manufacturing of crude bombs in the poll-bound state, an official said.
It asserted that all cases related to the making of any such explosive would be probed by the National Investigation Agency, the official said.
The directive came after the police recovered a large number of crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, days ahead of the second and final phase of the assembly polls in the state.
The explosives were recovered during a search at the residence of Rafikul Islam following specific inputs, the official said.
The poll panel also issued a warning to senior police officers across the state over any lapse in maintaining law and order before the April 29 polling.
The first phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal was held on April 23, while the second phase will take place on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.
A record 93.19 per cent turnout has been recorded in the first round of polling. Bhangar will vote in the second phase.
