Mumbai: An FIR has been filed against seven persons from Peninsula Land Ltd for allegedly fabricating and circulating a falsified document pertaining to a sexual harassment investigation conducted under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) (POSH) Act.
In the matter, the signature of the former head legal consultant of the firm, Pragati Malle, was allegedly forged. The company did not respond to an email from the FPJ.
About The People Named In The FIR
The persons against whom the FIR is registered at the NM Joshi Marg police station include the heads of the firm, those from the HR department, and the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). The persons booked include senior general manager (HR and Admin), Siddharth Nambiar, 40; assistant HR manager Zeeniah Pereira, 26; Nisha Shah, 44; CEO and director Nandan Parimal, 44; MD and executive vice-chairman Rajeev Parimal, 49, vicechairman and CFO Gangadharan Nalukettungal, and other unknown persons.
About The Case
Malle, who joined Peninsula Land Ltd on June 28, 2023, as the head legal consultant, was also appointed as the presiding officer of the ICC. In November 2023, the ICC began investigating a sexual harassment complaint filed by a female employee against a male colleague. According to the POSH Act, the investigation was to conclude within 90 days, and a report was submitted on December 12, 2023, bearing Malle’s signature.
Subsequent to the report, the ICC proposed disciplinary action, including a suspension and reduction in salary for the accused employee. However, Nisha Shah allegedly circulated revised recommendations to Nambiar, which included a lighter penalty. Malle maintains that these revised recommendations were neither approved nor finalised.
Meanwhile on February 8, 2024, Malle faced alleged humiliation and harassment at a meeting involving Nambiar, Nandan Parimal, and Rajeev Parimal. Following the incident, Malle and two female colleagues from the legal department submitted their resignations. However, their resignations were not accepted until February 21, 2024. During this period, Malle claims to have received an email dated February 13, 2024, containing a purported final report of the ICC recommendations. Shockingly, she discovered that her signature had been forged using electronic means. A forensic document examiner’s report, dated February 17, confirmed the forgery.
Adding to the controversy, it is alleged that Nisha Shah and Gangadharan formed a new ICC without Malle’s knowledge during her notice period. This newly formed committee issued a diluted punishment for the accused employee. Aggrieved by the alleged forgery and harassment, Malle approached the NM Joshi Marg police with a court order and filed an FIR against the accused under charges of forgery and fabrication of documents.
