A controversy has erupted at IndiGo, one of India's largest airlines, following allegations of caste-based discrimination leveled by a trainee pilot against three senior officials. The pilot, a 35-year-old belonging to a Scheduled Caste, has filed a First Information Report (FIR) accusing the officials of subjecting him to casteist slurs, professional harassment, and a hostile work environment.
The FIR, initially filed as a "zero FIR" in Bengaluru and subsequently transferred to Gurgaon where IndiGo's headquarters are located, names Tapas Dey, Manish Sahni, and Captain Rahul Patil as the accused. The complaint was registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to the complainant, the alleged harassment began shortly after he arrived at the Gurugram office for a meeting on April 28th. He claims that Dey instructed him to leave his phone and bag outside in a "demeaning manner," setting the stage for the abuse that followed. During the 30-minute meeting, the pilot alleges that the three officials made several casteist remarks, including statements such as "you are not fit to fly an aircraft, go back and stitch slippers" and that he didn't "even have the worth to be a watchman here". He says the officials intended to force his resignation through these actions.
Beyond the verbal abuse, the trainee pilot alleges a pattern of "professional victimisation." This included unjustified salary deductions, forced retraining sessions, revocation of travel privileges, and unwarranted warning letters. He claims that these actions were designed to further demean and marginalize him within the company. Despite reporting the matter to senior management and the company's ethics committee, the pilot claims no remedial action was taken, leaving him with no option but to approach the police.
IndiGo has yet to release an official statement regarding the allegations. However, the airline's website states its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, emphasizing fair treatment across various social and demographic parameters, including caste. The lack of immediate response from IndiGo has drawn criticism, with some questioning whether anti-Dalit caste discrimination and harassment are part of the airline's corporate culture.
The incident has sparked outrage and concern, with many calling for a thorough and impartial investigation into the matter. Assistant Sub-Inspector Dalwinder Singh has stated that the police have begun collecting evidence and will soon record the statements of all parties involved. This case has brought the issue of caste discrimination in the Indian aviation industry to the forefront, prompting a wider discussion about the need for greater awareness, sensitivity, and accountability within the sector. Critics argue that while India's legal framework explicitly prohibits discrimination based on caste, religion, sex, or place of birth, incidents like this highlight the gap between the law and its enforcement.
