Convergys employee allege sex abuse at workplace
Bengaluru: Two women employees of customer management multinational Convergys have lodged police complaints alleging sexual harassment at workplace. They said senior male colleagues sought sexual favours from them in exchange for salary increment and promotion.
The complaints were filed on April 8. The Suddaguntepalya police registered two FIRs and arrested the three men identified as Mohammad Noman, Faizan Shameem and Rajarshi Bhat, all working in the company's human resource department. They were later let off on bail.
One of the women, 24-year-old Shweta (name changed), stated in her complaint that her co-workers, especially Shameem, Rajarshi and her supervisor Noman, often passed lewd remarks about her character, looks and attire.
She claimed the men took advantage of her traumatic past as she was molested by an Uber driver in December last year.
They would send her messages on social media, inviting her to weekend parties and suggesting that red wine increases libido.
The woman said the three men regularly texted her, sometimes well past midnight. There was always an element of sexual innuendo in their conversations. They sought sexual favours on the sly in exchange for salary increment and promotion.
"If this is not sexual harassment, what is it," she asked in the complaint.
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Vinay Somaiah Suicide: BJP stages road blockade protest in Madikeri
Madikeri: The Kodagu district unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a road blockade protest in Madikeri on Thursday, demanding the immediate arrest of those allegedly responsible for the suicide of party worker Vinay Somaiah.
BJP leaders and workers assembled at General Thimmaiah Circle in the heart of the city, raising slogans against the Congress party and the state government. The protestors specifically demanded action against a Congress spokesperson mentioned in a note Vinay reportedly left before his death.
Addressing the gathering, former Assembly Speaker K.G. Bopaiah expressed strong dissatisfaction with the government and the police. He said the FIR against Vinay originally stayed by the court was later revived under a different section by the police. “Vinay had merely posted about the unhygienic condition of the Napoklu public toilet. Instead of addressing the issue, an FIR was filed against him. This is unacceptable. The police seem to be functioning under the directions of Congress MLAs, disregarding even court orders,” he stated.
District BJP President Napanda Ravi Kalappa also criticized the police, saying Vinay had no direct connection to the original post and was wrongly targeted. “An innocent man has lost his life. Two MLAs in Kodagu district are misusing police power to suppress dissent. The FIR was registered under political pressure,” he alleged, further demanding that the two MLAs resign and cooperate with the investigation into Vinay's death.
The protest led to a road blockade that lasted for over an hour, significantly affecting traffic. Despite requests from police officers to clear the area, BJP workers insisted on the arrival of the District Superintendent of Police (SP) to address their concerns.
SP K. Ramarajan later arrived at the protest site and informed the protesters that since the incident occurred in Bengaluru, the investigation was being conducted by the police there.
He assured full cooperation from the Kodagu police in the ongoing probe. Following his assurance, the BJP workers dispersed peacefully.
District BJP General Secretary Mahesh Jaini, SC Morcha District President P.M. Ravi, Women’s Wing President Anita Poovaiah, and other key party functionaries including Suvin Ganapathy, Jagadish, Arun Shetty, municipal council members, and BJP office-bearers from across the district were present on the occasion.
