IndiGo Employee Alleges Caste Discrimination, FIR Registered; Airline Denies Charges

A serious controversy has emerged involving IndiGo Airlines, one of India’s largest budget carriers, after an employee alleged caste-based abuse and workplace harassment by three senior staff members. An FIR has been registered in Gurugram, even as the airline has strongly denied the allegations, calling them "baseless".

The Allegation: Casteist Remarks in Company Meeting

The complainant, Sharan A., a 35-year-old employee from Bengaluru, stated that he belongs to the Adi Dravida community, a Scheduled Caste, and that he was targeted with casteist slurs during an internal company meeting on April 28. The alleged perpetrators include Tapas Dey, Manish Sahni, and Captain Rahul Patil—all senior officials at IndiGo.

According to Sharan, he was publicly humiliated and insulted during the meeting with derogatory and caste-based remarks. He further claims this was not an isolated incident, but part of a pattern of continued discrimination and harassment at the workplace.

Allegations of Sustained Harassment

Sharan’s complaint also outlines a series of retaliatory actions he faced, including:

• Unjustified warning letters without any explanation or proof

• Salary cuts and cancellation of sick leaves without valid cause

• Revocation of staff travel and ACM (Additional Crew Member) privileges

• Continuous pressure to resign

He alleges that despite informing the CEO and the Ethics Committee of IndiGo about the incident and the broader pattern of harassment, no internal action was taken by the company.

Legal Action and Police Response

Initially, a zero FIR was lodged in Bengaluru, as the complainant resides there. Since the alleged incident took place in Gurugram, the case was transferred to the Gurugram police. Following this, an FIR was formally registered at the DLF Phase 1 Police Station on Sunday, June 22, 2025.

Rajesh Kumar, Station House Officer (SHO), stated:

“An FIR has been registered and a probe is underway. We are verifying the facts and action will be taken as per the law.”

IndiGo’s Response

In a strongly worded statement, IndiGo dismissed the allegations, stating:

“IndiGo upholds a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of discrimination, harassment, or bias and remains committed to a respectful and inclusive workplace.”

The airline reiterated its core values of fairness, integrity and accountability, and said it would fully cooperate with law enforcement as needed.

Corporate and Legal Implications

The incident has sparked serious concerns around workplace ethics, corporate responsibility, and compliance with anti-discrimination laws in India. Under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, any verbal or physical abuse based on caste is a criminal offence and is punishable by law.

Given the seriousness of the complaint and the high-profile nature of the company, this case could potentially lead to:

• Internal audits or HR investigations

• Public scrutiny and reputational damage to IndiGo

• Possible intervention by regulatory bodies such as the Ministry of Civil Aviation or National Commission for Scheduled Castes

Broader Context: Casteism in Indian Workplaces

The incident brings renewed attention to caste-based discrimination in Indian corporate environments, an issue that often remains under-reported. While many companies claim to maintain inclusive HR practices, implicit bias and systemic discrimination still persist, particularly in hierarchical settings.

Activists argue that cases like these highlight the urgent need for:

• More robust anti-discrimination policies

• Mandatory training on caste sensitivity and inclusion

• Independent grievance redressal mechanisms

Conclusion

This ongoing case involving IndiGo Airlines and its employee underscores the importance of enforcing workplace rights, ensuring accountability of leadership, and maintaining transparency in internal investigations. As law enforcement in Gurugram continues to investigate, all eyes will be on how both the legal system and IndiGo’s corporate governance framework respond to these serious charges.

The case could become a watershed moment for addressing caste discrimination in India’s aviation and corporate sectors, especially if due diligence is followed and justice is served.

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