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The woman said she could not proceed with the complaint as she would have missed her connecting flight. (Pic for representation)
The woman, an Indian citizen, is currently a fellow at a US-based institute. She alleged the incident happened on a flight from Kolkata to Abu Dhabi (transit to Boston). She posted the details on X, tagging Naveen Jindal, who responded promptly
The founder of an NGO from India, through a post on X on Friday, complained to Naveen Jindal, MP and chairman of Jindal Steel, of sexual harassment allegedly by a senior official of his company on a flight from Kolkata to Abu Dhabi. Jindal replied to her post, stating they have “a zero-tolerance policy on such matters”, promising an investigation and necessary action. The woman, whose name is being withheld to protect her identity, is an Indian citizen, with expertise in public policy and social justice, and is currently a fellow at a US-based institute.
“Sharing an incident that happened with me in the flight from Calcutta to Abu Dhabi (transit to Boston). I am very grateful to the staff of @__Etiihad and the Abu Dhabi police for the support they provided me. I was seated next to an industrialist…He must be roughly 65 in age & told me he now lives in Oman but travels frequently. He started chatting me up – very normal conversation about our roots, family etc He is from Churu in Rajasthan…& both sons are married & settled in the US etc. The conversation moved to what my hobbies are. He asked if I enjoy watching movies & I was like of course,” she wrote.
“He then proceeds to tell me he has some movie clips on his phone. He whips out his phone and earphones to show me PORN! He started groping me. I was frozen in shock and scare. I eventually ran off to the washroom and complained to the air staff,” the post said.
“Thankfully the Etihad team was very pro-active and took action immediately. They made me sit at their seating area and served me tea & fruits. He kept calling them to ask where I had gone. The staff also informed the cops at Abu Dhabi who were waiting as soon the gates of the aircraft opened. I could not proceed with a complaint because I would have missed my connecting flight to Boston,” she wrote.
Responding to her post, Jindal wrote, “…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 action will be taken.”
She replied to it, saying, “I appreciate your response Mr. Jindal. I will be awaiting action as well.”