IndiGo Employee Accuses Senior Officials of Caste Discrimination

Allegations of Casteist Remarks at IndiGo Airlines

A complaint has been lodged by an IndiGo Airlines employee against three senior officials, alleging that they made casteist comments during an official meeting. This issue was confirmed by airline representatives on Monday.

The complaint was first filed as a zero FIR in Karnataka on May 21 and was subsequently transferred to the DLF-1 police station in Gurugram. The complainant, Sharan A., 35, from Bengaluru, reported the incident, which occurred in Gurugram, prompting the local police to take over the case.

Upon receiving the zero FIR, the Gurugram police registered a formal FIR at the DLF Phase-1 police station on Sunday. Rajesh Kumar, the SHO of DLF Phase 1, stated, "An FIR has been filed, and an investigation is underway. We are verifying all details and will take appropriate legal action."

IndiGo Responds: Allegations Are Unfounded

IndiGo Airlines has categorically denied the allegations, labeling them as unfounded. The airline expressed its willingness to cooperate fully with any investigations.

A spokesperson for the company stated, "IndiGo maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy against discrimination, harassment, and bias. We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and respectful work environment. We firmly reject these baseless claims and uphold our core values of fairness, honesty, and accountability."

Details from the FIR

The complainant identifies as a member of the 'Adi Dravida' community, classified under the Scheduled Caste category, and claims to have faced casteist remarks multiple times at work.

The FIR details an incident from April 28, where three IndiGo employees—Tapas Dey, Manish Sahni, and Captain Rahul Patil—are accused of using derogatory and casteist language towards him.

Sharan A.'s Claims

"I have endured caste-based insults, intimidation, and discrimination. I was publicly humiliated and have faced repeated targeting, including receiving warning letters without justification, pay cuts, denied sick leaves, and canceled travel and ACM benefits. I was also pressured to resign," Sharan A. stated.

He mentioned that he had escalated the issue to the company's CEO and Ethics Committee, but no action was taken, leading him to seek police intervention.