A 27-year-old woman employee working with Star Union Dai-ichi Life Insurance and posted at a Union Bank branch in Pune has lodged a complaint alleging prolonged mental, verbal and physical harassment by her immediate superior. Acting on the complaint and supporting evidence submitted by the woman, Pune Police arrested the accused manager and launched an investigation into the matter.
The incident, reported from Pune’s Hinjawadi area, has drawn attention to workplace safety concerns and allegations of abuse of authority within private sector organisations.
Woman alleges months of harassment
According to the complainant, her senior manager, identified as Mohammad Jafar alias Sadiq Madrasab Sayyed, allegedly subjected her to repeated harassment while she was employed with the company.
Speaking about her ordeal, the woman alleged that the accused frequently made inappropriate comments and attempted to exploit his position of authority.
“My senior is Mohammad Siddiqui. He mentally harassed me and also subjected me to physical harassment. He would tell me that I would get a particular post and that we would go places together. He kept harassing me and would say that if I kept him happy, everything would be better for me. Otherwise, he would remove anyone who displeased him. He made such obscene remarks and repeatedly said inappropriate things to me.”
The complainant alleged that the accused repeatedly linked her professional growth and career prospects to his personal demands, creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.
VHP-Bajrang Dal raises the matter
The case also drew the attention of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)-Bajrang Dal activists after the woman approached them seeking assistance.
Nitin Mahajan, West Maharashtra Province Coordinator of VHP-Bajrang Dal, said the woman had been working with the insurance company for approximately six months and alleged that her manager frequently crossed professional boundaries.
According to Mahajan, “On the 29th, a matter was brought to our attention. A sister from a village had come to work in a private insurance company. She had been employed there for the past six months. However, her area manager, Mohammad Sadiq, would speak to her about matters unrelated to work. He would ask about her personal life and seek details about issues concerning women that had nothing to do with her job.”
Mahajan further alleged that the accused routinely engaged the woman in personal conversations and attempted to establish an inappropriate relationship under the guise of professional interaction.
Police arrest accused after verifying evidence
Confirming the arrest, Senior Police Inspector Balaji Pandhare stated that police received a complaint from the woman and subsequently examined the material submitted by her.
According to Inspector Pandhare, “We received a complaint from a 27-year-old woman who was employed with the head office of an insurance company and was posted at a Union Bank branch. According to her complaint, her immediate superior, Mohammad Jafar alias Sadiq Madrasab Sayyed, repeatedly harassed her and attempted to molest her.”
Police said the complainant alleged that the accused took her to a restaurant in Lonavala, held her hand and behaved inappropriately with her.
“The complainant also provided certain digital evidence. After verifying the material available to us, we immediately arrested the accused,” Pandhare said.
Investigators are currently examining additional evidence and statements as part of the ongoing probe.
Growing concerns over workplace targeting
The Pune case comes at a time when allegations of misconduct, harassment and abuse of authority in corporate workplaces are receiving heightened scrutiny across Maharashtra.
In another recent controversy, a woman employee in Pune’s Wipro office alleged that she was pressured by colleagues to convert to Islam and enter into a relationship with a Muslim co-worker. The allegations were raised publicly by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and subsequently attracted significant attention. Police investigations and internal inquiries in that matter are ongoing.
Similarly, the Nashik TCS case has expanded into one of Maharashtra’s most widely discussed workplace investigations. Multiple women employees have filed complaints alleging sexual exploitation, religious coercion, harassment and abuse by colleagues at a TCS-associated BPO facility. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the matter has filed multiple chargesheets and named several accused across nine separate complaints.
One complainant in the Nashik case alleged that she was encouraged to stop visiting temples, stop listening to devotional songs and watch videos of Islamic preachers, including Pakistani cleric Tariq Jamil and preacher Zakir Naik. The allegations remain under judicial scrutiny, and investigations continue.
While the facts and allegations in the Pune insurance case are distinct from those in the Wipro and Nashik matters, all three incidents have intensified discussions around workplace safety, misuse of professional authority, internal grievance mechanisms and the need for stronger protections for employees, particularly women entering the workforce away from their hometowns.
Police officials have stated that the Pune investigation remains ongoing and that further action will be taken based on evidence collected during the course of the probe.
