Bharti Group Innovation & IT Director Jai Menon has confirmed his resignation, saying he quitted to go back to create intellectual property (IP) and do research in deep technology.

Mr. Menon, who was the director for Innovation & IT as well as the CIO across all group businesses, has been accredited with the launch of network provider Airtel's enterprise business. He had joined Bharti Group in 2002 as a corporate director.

Announcing his exit, he said, "It is part of my life plan. In January, I will be turning 50 and want to pursue research and innovation in technology."

He tried to explain saying he was engaged with telecom in his 40s, devoted to IT and research in his 30s and 20s, respectively; so it was part of his plan to do research in technology in his 50s.

While Mr. Menon said he exited so that he could pursue research and innovation in technology, there are some reports that allege that he was responsible for some financial irregularities that forced him to quit.

Mr. Menon is a graduate from IIT Delhi and an alumnus of America's Cornell University. He started his career at IBM's TJ Watson Research Labs in the United States. He has also worked with American mobile phone carrier AT&T.