Oman-based CEO charged with sexual harassment on flight

Dinesh Kumar Sarogi, the CEO of Oman-based Vulcan Green Steel, has been charged under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita following allegations of sexual harassment by Ananya Chhaochharia. The incident reportedly took place on a flight from Kolkata to Abu Dhabi, as reported by India Today.

Ananya accused the 65-year-old CEO of showing her adult movie clips on his mobile phone. The interaction, which began as a casual conversation about hobbies and families, escalated when Sarogi allegedly displayed the inappropriate content.

Etihad’s cabin crew promptly responded to the situation by relocating Ananya to their seating space and offering her fruits. Despite this, Sarogi repeatedly asked the crew about Ananya's whereabouts.

Upon arriving in Kolkata, Ananya's parents filed a complaint with the Bidhannagar City Police. Consequently, Sarogi was charged under Sections 74 (assault or use of criminal force with intent to outrage modesty), 75 (sexual harassment), and 79 (uttering words or making sound or gesture or exhibiting any object that insults the modesty of a woman and intrudes upon her privacy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Ananya also appealed to Naveen Jindal, MP and Chairman of Jindal Steel, to take necessary action against Sarogi. Responding to her appeal, Jindal expressed his gratitude for Ananya’s bravery in speaking out and reiterated his company's zero-tolerance policy for such behavior. He assured that a team had been tasked to investigate the matter and take strict action.

Dear Ananya, thank you for reaching out and speaking up! It takes a lot of courage to do what you did and I want you to know that we have a zero tolerance policy for such matters. I have asked the team to immediately investigate the matter and thereafter strictest and necessary…

— Naveen Jindal (@MPNaveenJindal) July 19, 2024