‘At a young age, you should not be concerned about character and focus on career growth only’: MSRTC DGM booked for seeking sexual favours from employee of consulting firm

A senior police officer said that an FIR under Section 354(A) II of the Indian Penal Code that deals with sexual harassment by requests for sexual favours by promising preferential treatment in employment had been registered against Veerendra Kadam, Deputy General Manager (Information & Technology) at MSRTC.

As per MSRTC, while Kadam (59) had retired in March this year, he was granted a 18-month extension by the government.

After the FIR was registered, a senior police officer at Nagpada police station said that they have begun a probe in the matter and have started recording statements of the complainant’s colleagues.

MSRTC spokesperson Abhijeet Bhosle said that “an Internal Committee is probing the matter and the report should be out soon”.

When contacted, the MSRTC chairman and MD, Madhav Kusekar said, “I have asked the committee to submit the report tomorrow based on which we will take further action.”

Kadam’s phone was switched-off and even messages sent to him did not elicit any response till the time of going to press.

In her complaint submitted at her workplace on May 31, 2024, the woman alleged that on May 29 at around 4.30pm, Kadam called her and another colleague to discuss work-related issues where others were also present. After the discussion, while everyone left, Kadam asked her to stay back and subsequently called for tea, she stated.

“ Suddenly, out of nowhere, Mr Kadam approached me and made sexually suggestive comments, implying that my professional advancement within the organisation would be contingent upon my willingness to be more accommodating to his advances,” she said in her complaint.

He also claimed that many seniors had reached higher positions by “compromising” and “sacrificing”, she stated in her complaint to MSRTC which the internal committee was inquiring upon.

She further alleged that while she tried to change the topic, he continued with the verbal harassment and told her that “at such a young age, I should not be concerned about my character and focus on career growth only”. She added that he also told her he was “ready to book a room in SAHIL hotel on the coming Saturday (01/06/2024)”.

She added that she expressed her discomfort by moving away and saying that such behaviour was not acceptable. “…while conversing with him, he leaned uncomfortably close to my neck. I was in a state of shock and left the room,” she said.

The complainant further said that Kadam called her on phone again at 6pm on the same day, citing he would ask her project manager to promote her to which she said there was no need for that. “He further asked about the proposal (sexual favours) given by him to which I clearly stated NO twice. He, however, asked me to rethink the matter and give a positive response,” she stated adding she hung up the phone saying she would speak later.

She added, “The impact of this on my professional life has been profound. I find myself anxious, dreading any interaction with Mr Kadam.” After her complaint was forwarded to MSRTC, an Internal Committee (IC) looked into it on June 4, she said.

On August 6, she wrote a letter to the Transport Department, in which she alleged that the IC was changed immediately and committee members close to or related to Kadam were inducted. She alleged that an attempt was made to put pressure on an IC member by filing a cheating case but the local Nagpada police said it was a civil matter.

Responding to this allegation, Kusekar said, “We changed the committee to accommodate senior members as some of the previous members were of the same seniority as the Kadam.”

Not satisfied with the IC that was probing her complaint, she approached the Nagpada police on Tuesday following which an FIR was registered against Kadam.

The woman, in her complaint, further said that she has verifiable proofs with her such as call recordings of Kadam (on the day of the incident) in which he can be heard offering her promotion. She said that she has already submitted them with the police. The officer at the Nagpada police confirmed this.

On Thursday, police recorded the statements of her colleagues and also conducted a panchnama of Kadam’s cabin where the alleged incident took place.