Ex-CEO of popular fashion e-commerce startup files sexual harassment case against co-founder, ex-COO

As per her complaint, the chief technology officer and the chief operations officer of the company have been trying to trouble her and defame her over some internal company issues since 2019.

She stated in her police complaint that in March 2021 the two accused came close to her and told her that they can discuss things other than the professional work at the hotel room. “The two accused would often call her at odd hours in the night and request her to keep a non-professional relationship with them by meeting them personally. This caused mental harassment to her,” she stated in the FIR. The complainant had told two of her friends and colleagues about this.

As her company’s financial condition was deteriorating, the two accused removed her from the CEO post. Later in June 2022, the complainant herself gave her resignation and in March 2023 joined a Singapore-based company.

She has also alleged in her statement to the police that despite her leaving the company, the two accused continued to defame her in investors’ circle by allegedly posting objectionable posts regarding her on social media. This caused immense mental harassment to her prompting her to approach the police.

She told the police that since she was in Singapore and was not getting leave, there was a delay in reporting the matter to the police.

On her complaint, the police have registered an FIR under Section 354A (sexual harassment) and 354D (stalking) of the India Penal Code. Police may soon summon the accused and record their statement, an officer said.