EY India office lacked labour welfare permit, probe finds after employee's death
Pune: An investigation into the death of a 26-year-old Ernst & Young (EY) employee, Anna Sebastian Perayil, has revealed that the company's Pune office had been operating without a mandatory labour welfare permit since 2007. Perayil's family claims that her death was due to the overwhelming workload she faced while employed at the firm.
Maharashtra's additional labour commissioner, Shailendra Pol, confirmed that EY had applied for a permit in February 2024, which was rejected due to non-compliance with labour laws. According to the state's Shops and Establishments Act, work hours must be regulated to a maximum of nine hours per day and 48 hours per week. The company has been given seven days to respond.
Perayil’s mother had written to EY India's chairman, Rajiv Memani, attributing her daughter’s death to the intense pressure at work, sparking discussions about the impact of high-pressure corporate environments on employee health. The National Human Rights Commission has also taken cognisance of the case, calling it a potential human rights violation.
If found in violation, EY India could face a fine of up to ₹5 lakh, with the potential for jail time for the company's head. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities examining the company's employee logbook and welfare policies.
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FIR registered after drone spotted flying over ISRO's ISITE campus in Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): An unmanned aerial vehicle was allegedly spotted flying over the ISRO's ISITE campus here, a designated "No Drone Zone", following which a probe has been launched, police said on Tuesday.
The incident occurred at around 8.16 AM on May 2, they said.
A probe was launched following a complaint by a sub-inspector from the CISF who spotted the unidentified drone flying at a height of approximately 80 to 100 feet over the ISITE (Satellite Integration and Test Establishment) campus for about 10 to 12 seconds, police said.
According to the FIR, the ISRO ISITE campus is a highly sensitive and restricted area, designated as a "No Drone Zone." Any unauthorised aerial activity in such a sensitive zone poses a serious threat to security.
Despite being aware that this is a prohibited "No Drone Zone," some unknown individuals have carried out illegal drone activity in the restricted area, the complaint alleged.
Police said a case has been registered against unknown persons at HAL police station under Section 329(3) (criminal trespass) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with relevant provisions of the Aircraft Act, for operating a drone in a prohibited area without permission.
Further investigation is underway, they added.
