Sexual harassment cases against HR personnel

Two female employees from different departments of a leading business process management firm on Bannerghatta Road have lodged separate complaints with the police against their senior male colleagues.

While one has accused senior male colleagues of sexual harassment in return for a promotion during the appraisal process, the other has alleged that the men passed lewd comments about her.

The South East division police, who registered two FIRs, have arrested Mohammad Noman, Faizan Shameem and Rajarshi Bhat from the human resource department of Convergys. They are out on bail, police said.

One of the women, a 24-year-old software engineer, alleged in her complaint that the trio had been passing lewd comments about her and sought sexual favours. She accused them of sending messages via social media, inviting her for weekend parties, as well as text messages late at night, allegedly in exchange for a good appraisal from them.

She decided to approach the police after being asked to submit her resignation, which she refused. However, the company threatened to terminate her employment. She then sent a legal notice to the management stating that she will not accept the termination without a valid explanation.

The other complainant, a 27-year-old from another department, lodged a complaint accusing Faizan Shameem of passing lewd remarks about her.

The Sudduguntepalya police have registered the two cases under Sections 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 504 (intentional insult) of the Indian Penal Code.