Tech Mahindra has denied claims that its office enforced a “footwear-free zone” during Ramzan for prayers. The company said an internal review found the allegations and viral images to be inaccurate. The claim, shared by BJP leader Ashutosh Dubey, triggered debate online over religious accommodation in workplaces.
Amid the ongoing controversy at Tata Consultancy Services' (TCS) Nashik campus, where team leaders face allegations of sexual harassment and forced religious conversions, a fresh claim of religious bias in the workplace has surfaced involving Tech Mahindra.
Bombay High Court advocate and BJP Maharashtra SM Legal & Advisory Department head Ashutosh J. Dubey shared on X an Instagram direct message purportedly from a female employee at the company's Goregaon campus in Mumbai. The message alleged biased hiring practices, unequal workplace policies, and religious favoritism during festivals. The user also claimed that the office pantry had been declared a "Footwear-Free Zone" during Ramzan to facilitate prayers and iftar, with colleagues being asked to comply in the name of 'unity.'
Dubey shared screenshots of messages received by the employee who works in the Rogers Telecom process. The employee alleged that 60 percent of employees are Muslim boys and that most of them have Hindu girlfriends. The employee said that Muslim girls are allowed to wear 'burhas and nakabs'. The large number of Muslim employees were hired by HR Ghulam Ghous.
"During Ramzan, he gives total freedom to Muslim employees. They have iftar parties daily during that month with all the Muslim employees gathering in the canteen. I feel like working in a mini Pakistan over here. Please do something if possible. Let Mr. Anand Mahindra know about this," the employee wrote to Dubey.
