IOB Officer Alleges Caste Discrimination, Harassment and Assault by Senior Officials

A banking officer of Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) belonging to a Scheduled Community has alleged harassment, physical assault, and caste-based discrimination by senior officials. A complaint was earlier filed at the Mulavukad police station in Ernakulam, Kerala which was later transferred to Ernakulam Central Police Station. The complaint accuses Assistant General Manager(AGM) Kashmir Singh and Chief Regional Manager Nitish Kumar Sinha of multiple violations, including physical abuse, verbal abuse, and professional victimisation.

Allegations of Physical Harassment

According to the complaint, the AGM allegedly forced the officer to purchase essentials for his personal residence. Upon refusal, the AGM reportedly engaged in a heated argument and physically assaulted the officer by striking him on the back while he was working at his cubicle. Following the assault, the officer took  treatment from the General Hospital in Ernakulam. Medical records were submitted to the police. However, the complainant has stated that he hesitated to proceed with legal action fearing further victimisation.

Despite an ongoing police investigation and registration of a non-bailable offence, the CRM Nitish Kumar Sinha continues to mark attendance in the system while allegedly avoiding arrest. Meanwhile, the AGM Kashmir Singh was transferred to the Central Office in Chennai, but the reason remains unknown.  

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Suspension and Workplace Threats

The complainant further alleged that after filing the police complaint, he was subjected to threats and punitive actions. On 01 November 2024, after 7:30 PM, the AGM handed him a suspension letter, stating that filing the complaint was the "greatest mistake" of his life. The suspension was allegedly linked to accusations of leaking a legal advisory document that discussed methods to bypass court orders nullifying previous punitive transfers. The complainant denied any involvement in the alleged leak.

The following day, when the complainant visited the Regional Office to collect a chargesheet related to an internal enquiry, Chief Regional Manager Nitish Kumar Sinha allegedly issued further threats. The CRM reportedly warned the officer that he would "spoil his life" using his high-level management connections. He also allegedly demanded that the complainant "touch his feet and beg for pardon" if he wanted to avoid further action. The complainant was then informed that he would be transferred to Ahmedabad as part of disciplinary measures.

After an internal enquiry, the complainant faced severe disciplinary actions, including the deduction of 15 salary increments, despite having only 11 years of service with IOB. In addition, he was transferred to Ahmedabad, a move he claims was intended as a punishment for raising his voice against workplace injustice.

Allegations of Caste-Based Discrimination

The officer also detailed repeated instances of casteist abuse from both the AGM and the CRM. He alleged that both officials frequently used casteist slurs such as "chamar ke bacche"(son of lowercaste) and "neeche aadmi"(downtrodden). He further stated that they often remarked that people from lower castes were only fit for cleaning jobs in North India and should not be working alongside upper-caste superiors in the bank.

Following the police complaint, the AGM allegedly warned the complainant that filing a case would be the "worst decision of his life" and that he would be transferred to Ahmedabad as a lesson in "actual caste discrimination."

Union Calls for Action

SS Anil, the All India President of the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI), who has been in close touch with the complainant, condemned the incident. Speaking to Kanal, he stated, "The caste discrimination and humiliation have shattered the complainant completely. The incident of physical harassment also needs to be addressed both from the perspective of the SC/ST atrocities law and employee rights. This shameful incident is unheard of in the banking sector in recent times, particularly in Kerala. Moreover, this incident brings shame to the name of IOB, one of India’s oldest nationalised banks. The management must act upon this swiftly."

Demand for Immediate Intervention

The complaint has sparked outrage within employee unions, with demands for immediate action against the accused officials. The matter has raised serious concerns about workplace discrimination, abuse of power, and caste-based harassment in the banking sector. As the case progresses, employees and union representatives continue to call for strict action to ensure justice and prevent further incidents of discrimination and intimidation.