A billion-dollar wastewater treatment firm issued a surprising defense of its CEO after he was allegedly caught paying for sex at high-end brothels.  

Gradient, a clean water startup worth over $1 billion, came out behind its chief executive Anurag Bajpayee after he was arrested in a prostitution sting earlier this year. 

Bajpayee was among dozens of men in the Boston area who were named in court documents alleging they paid hundreds of dollars-per-hour for high-end sex work. 

Following his arrest on misdemeanor charges, Gradient said in a statement to the Wall Street Journal: ‘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.’ 

Bajpayee has previously been praised as a leader in the water treatment technology world, including being named on Scientific American’s annual Top 10 World-Changing Ideas list. 

While the tech leader’s firm is standing beside him, the same cannot be said of other men who were also named on the court documents. 

Among the most scandalous names on the list was Cambridge City Councilor Paul Toner, a married lawmaker who allegedly used the same illicit services as Bajpayee. 

Anurag Bajpayee, the CEO of billion-dollar wastewater treatment firm Gradient, was defended by his company this week after he was accused of using a high-end prostitution ring 

Police said the accused men had paid for commercial sex at high-end brothels in the Boston area. An advertisement for the brothel is seen here

Toner has faced calls for his resignation since he was named in court documents last month, and he subsequently released a humiliating statement apologizing to his loved ones. 

‘I caused pain for the people I care about most,’ he said. ‘For that, I will be forever sorry. This is an ongoing legal matter, and I will not have further comment at this time.’

In court, police said that Toner had paid for commercial sex and settled on handing over $340 for one hour with a woman known as Tulip, a stage name.

Toner did not appear in court following his arrest, and his attorney Tim Flaherty said at the time that he was standing beside the embattled councilman. 

‘I’ve known Paul Toner my entire life, and in my view, he’s a man of high character,’ Flaherty said. 

‘He loves his family, and his family loves him. None of us are perfect. He’s a hard working city councilor, and the City of Cambridge is lucky to have him.’ 

Toner was part of a wave of alleged clients of a Boston brothel ring that were called up in court to face probable cause hearings last month, following a legal battle to remain anonymous that fell short. 

Prosecutors say the individuals are part of an elite clientele that includes the likes of public officials, government contractors, as well doctors and lawyers. 

Among the most scandalous names on the list was Cambridge City Councilor Paul Toner, a married lawmaker who allegedly used the same illicit services as Bajpayee 

Demonstrations were held outside the courthouse after the prostitution ring was uncovered  

Court documents stated that the men named in the hearings last month had paid for a ‘girlfriend experience’ at the brothels. 

Officials say this experience involves a service that ‘blurs the boundaries between a financial transaction and a romantic relationship’.

All are said to have patronized a brothel ring that operated out of six luxury apartments in Cambridge and Watertown, Massachusetts, as well as DC’s suburbs, whose clientele have been described as ‘rich and powerful.’

Prosecutors say these stringent checks revealed that the brothels’ visitors included public officials, military officers, high-level government contractors, doctors, professors and CEOs. 

The men paid up to $600 per hour for sexual encounters with predominately Asian women who were being exploited through sex trafficking, prosecutors allege. 

Those in charge of the brothels also made monthly memberships available to repeat visitors.