Sexual Harassment Slur On Top Officials Of Axis Bank In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: A senior woman manger of Axis Bank here has levelled sexual harassment allegations against Circle Head and a branch head in Odisha capital.

In a written complaint lodged at Mahila Police Station here, she alleged that the Circle Head made sexual advances and sought sexual favours while he was the branch head between 2014 and 2015. On being rebuffed, he abused her and often tried to touch her inappropriately. However, he was later transferred. In 2018, he joined as Circle Head and her current branch head allegedly asked her to appease the former.

Speaking to Odisha Bytes, the victim said that she had complained on the Whistler Blower Portal about being harassed by the branch head and favouritism shown to a few people in August 2018 and again in May 2019 as it also reflected on her performance appraisal. “I got no reply from them. I had also taken up the issue of ill-treatment with top authorities but in vain. On December 30, 2019, I was suddenly transferred to Berhampur and asked to join duty on January 1. When I applied for seven days leave, they sanctioned it but also relieved me from the branch,” she said.

When she went to meet the Circle Head on January 6 with regard to her representation on the transfer,  he allegedly told her that she had to face the consequence of rebuffing him and refusing to accompany him for dinner.

The senior manager further said that initially, she tried to ignore his advances as her family depended on her income, but the harassment had now crossed all limits.

While police have registered a case under Sections 354 A (sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment), 294 (persons indulging in obscene act in any public place causing annoyance to others) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC and started investigation, the bank on Thursday released a statement on the issue.

“The complainant had made allegations against the branch authorities regarding performance and HR related matters. Based on the internal investigation, the bank had taken appropriate action as per its Code of Conduct and Ethics. The bank had initially not received any complaint against sexual harassment issues. A complaint was registered regarding sexual harassment on January 6, 2020; the bank has acknowledged it and will investigate the matter,” it said.

“Axis Bank has an Internal Committee (IC) comprising 56 members pan India that addresses such complaints under the ‘Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (“Act”). As a responsible organisation, Axis Bank has zero tolerance towards unscrupulous elements and is committed to fully cooperate with the relevant authorities for timely resolution of the issue,” it added.