Revealed: 'Truth' behind viral Kerala workplace harassment video showing employees on leash crawling on the floor

A day after a video purportedly showing employees of a private firm being humiliated for not meeting the monthly target went viral, a group of employees from the company claimed that what happened was not workplace harassment but an orchestrated attempt to defame the firm. 

The video showed a man, an employee of a door-to-door marketing firm in Kerala's Perumbavoor, on a leash crawling on the floor. Another man was seen licking coins from the floor while some others were forced to strip. People who gathered around them were seen mocking them. 

The footage triggered an uproar, following which the Kerala Government ordered the Labour Department to conduct a probe. The Labour Department officials visited the office of the company, identified as Keltra, in Perumbavoor. An initial inquiry too revealed that what happened was not workplace harassment but "personal differences" between two individuals in the company.

The video was recorded approximately six months ago by a former manager, identified as Manaf, who has since left the company. He is said to have recorded the video, claiming it was "for training purpose". Manaf is said to have leaked them now to defame the firm. 

One of the employees seen in the video has claimed Manaf recorded the video when senior manager Ubail went on leave. "Manaf instructed me to hold the leash. I had reported the incident to Ubail once he returned to work. An enquiry was launched and Manaf was terminated from the job. Manaf had personal animosity with Ubail and this is why he leaked the video," the employee was quoted by Manorama Online. He added that he planned to approach the police against Manaf.

The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has registered a case based on a complaint filed by Kerala High Court advocate Kulathoor Jaisingh.  

India