After allegations of bigotry swarmed Tech Mahindra’s diversity and inclusion officer Richa Gautam, the IT firm announced that she was fired from the organisation. On September 9, former Tech Mahindra employee Gaurav Probir Pramanik, highlighted incidents where Gautam had exhibited homophobic and Islamophobic behaviour, during professional meetings and on social media.
In his internal complaint flagging Gautam, Pramanik reported a specific incident from 2015 which he had “promised” to raise once homosexuality was decriminalised on India. On September 6, the Supreme Court had read down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code — which criminalised gay sex.
As per Pramanik, who had reportedly had worked at Tech Mahindra’s Noida office between 2013 and 2016, Gautam had once in a meeting made outrageous statements such as “If your mother is a prostitute, you’re a prostitute,” and also said that gay men cry.
On Saturday, Tech Mahindra announced Gautam’s departure from the organisation and also launched an investigation following Pramanik’s complaint.
@gauravpramanik,arising out of an investigation carried out in the matter,the concerned employee has been separated from the employment of the company with immediate effect. At Tech Mahindra,we believe in diversity & inclusion & condemn discrimination of any kind in the workplace
— Tech Mahindra (@tech_mahindra) September 15, 2018
Chairman of Mahindra Group, Anand Mahindra, also tweeted in support of Pramanik saying that the organisation’s Code of Conduct celebrates diversity.
I can categorically assure you that we celebrate diversity in our workplace. Our Code of Conduct is explicit on this subject. Fairness & dignity of the individual is enshrined in our core values.
Tech M is investigating these allegations, and appropriate action will follow… https://t.co/l5rh8VhP8L— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) September 11, 2018
After Gautam’s sacking, Pramanik made a statement where he claimed to have been “abused, threatened, and maligned” since he filed the complaint. Thanking the investigation team, he also probed Tech Mahindra to promote gender sensitivity within their organisation so as to prevent such incidents from occuring again.
Press Statement: pic.twitter.com/VgqIygpGqE
— GauravProbirPramanik (@gauravpramanik) September 16, 2018
Earlier, in the complaint, Pramanik also talked about Gautam claimed that the former’s “effeminate” behaviour affected his performance at work when really it was the “bullying and jeering” that he underwent at the organisation.
As promised, I wrote an email to my then boss at a Mahindra company I used to work with. She was a bigot and I suffered in her hands, I hence called her out. pic.twitter.com/4uHev8MY7G
— GauravProbirPramanik (@gauravpramanik) September 9, 2018
I didn’t realise you couldn’t upload more than 4 pics at once. pic.twitter.com/9DG8dT4IdB
— GauravProbirPramanik (@gauravpramanik) September 9, 2018
Following the reaction to his initial complaint, Pramanik posted screenshots from Gautam’s Twitter timeline — which was made private after the issue came to light — highlighting her Islamophobic remarks such as terming Islam as a “global pain”.
Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting to you, the Chief Diversity and Inclusivity Officer at @tech_mahindra , who has worked there for 11+ years, Ms. Richa Gautam @nainasingh1234. Cc: @anandmahindra @C_P_Gurnani pic.twitter.com/2hTSo5Y0DB
— GauravProbirPramanik (@gauravpramanik) September 13, 2018
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