#MeToo: Former Taj Hotel employee alleges sexual harassment charges against ex-CEO Rakesh Sarna

The MeToo campaign has already hit India’s media sector and now, has entered the corporates, wherein a former Taj Hotel employee has made allegations of sexual harassment against ex-CEO and MD Rakesh Sarna.

The case dates back to 2015, when the employee had already written a complaint to the then Chairman of Tata Sons, Cyrus Mistry and the Group HR head NS Rajan, who had then setup a committee to probe the charges. Even after 18 months, the committee is yet to submit the report.

In an email addressed to Cyrus Mistry on November 3 2015, the employee while quitting from the job had written, “I am writing to inform you that I have chosen not to take up the Tata Sons role and will be moving on from the Tata Group….. During my seven month employment at Taj I was subjected to repeated unwanted sexual advances from the top executive. When I ignored or tried to rebuff them the environment would become hostile.”

An email was sent to Cyrus Mistry regarding the matter by The Indian Express and his spokesperson had said, “As an immediate action, with her concurrence, Mr Mistry initiated an interim measure of providing an appropriate short-term alternate and safe work environment until the matter could be investigated and appropriately addressed….. An interim senior role, directly reporting to a group executive Council member in the Corporate Communications team was identified. Despite Tata Sons and IHCL having different grades and designation structures, care was taken to ensure that her current emoluments were protected. Despite several attempts to retain her, she decided not to accept the position and instead wished to pursue a career outside of Tatas.”

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