New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Friday questioned the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and a human resources executive of a city-based digital marketing firm after a former 20-year-old intern accused them of sexual harassment and inaction over her complaints.
According to sources in the Delhi Police, the intern, in a complaint filed last month, alleged that the CEO of RedCube Digital Media, headquartered in Sheikh Sarai, touched her inappropriately on multiple occasions and used language, both verbally and over texts, that made her uncomfortable.
The sources said the HR executive was also called in for questioning over allegations that no action was taken despite the complainant allegedly flagging the incidents of sexual harassment within the organisation. Her internship concluded last month, they said.
“The complainant was an intern with the firm and worked there for four months. She stated that on more than one occasion, the CEO misbehaved with her and touched her inappropriately, making her uncomfortable,” a senior Delhi Police officer told ThePrint.
“She tried to raise the issue within the organisation, but her complaints were not addressed. Following this, she decided to file a formal complaint with the police.”
A case has been registered under relevant sections, such as Sections 75 and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) that deal with offences amounting to sexual harassment as well as uttering any word or making any gesture intended to insult the modesty of a woman.
ThePrint reached the CEO via email regarding the complaint. This article will be updated as and when a response is received.
“The matter is now under investigation. A detailed statement of the intern has been recorded. If need be, more employees of the company will also be asked to record their statement regarding the CEO’s conduct,” one of the sources said.
The sources said that an inquiry is also underway whether the company had arrangements mandated under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, also known as the POSH Act.
The law mandates that every organisation employing more than 10 people must constitute an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to address workplace sexual harassment complaints.
“The firm has over 20 employees so by law they must have a committee to look into complaints of sexual harassment at workplace. We are looking into if there was a committee in place,” the source added.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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