IT giant Cognizant is set to sell its India headquarters in Chennai, marking a significant shift in its operational landscape. The property, located at Okkiyam Thoraipakkam on the city’s IT corridor, has been Cognizant’s headquarters for over two decades. The company is expected to vacate the premises by December 2024, with a sale estimated between ₹750 and ₹800 crore.

The Chennai property spans 15 acres and includes a four-lakh-square-foot office space. It holds historical significance for Cognizant, where co-founders Lakshmi Narayanan and Chandrasekaran once operated. The campus was also the site of the Nasdaq opening bell ceremony, conducted remotely by the company—a landmark event for Cognizant.

Selling is part of Cognizant’s efforts to consolidate its operations. The company plans to move its headquarters to its MEPZ campus near Tambaram on GST Road, along with two other buildings in Sholinganallur and Siruseri. Cognizant has also given up leased spaces across Chennai, including prominent offices at Ramanujan IT Park and DLF.

JLL, a global property advisory firm, has been tasked with overseeing sales. Prospective buyers, including local developers like Baashyaam Group and Casagrand, are being talked to, though a deal has yet to be finalised.

In addition to this major real estate move, Cognizant has faced legal issues. In April 2024, the Maharashtra Police’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) registered an offence against Cognizant, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), and unknown government officials in a $7.7 million bribery case related to securing permits for its Hinjawadi campus between 2013 and 2014.

As Cognizant looks to streamline its operations and shift its headquarters, this sale marks a major development in its real estate strategy. The consolidation aims to enhance operational efficiency, while the legal challenges underscore the complexities Cognizant faces as it navigates this transition.