iGate executive Mukund Srinath accused of sexual harassment

BENGALURU: Nearly two years after its chief executive was fired for not disclosing a sexual relationship with a colleague, information technology outsourcing firm iGate Technologies is in the eye of another such storm. Aformer senior executive has filed a sexual harassment case in the US against the company’s legal head Mukund Srinath.

The executive, Karetha Dodd, commenced the case in September last year, alleging that she was subjected to harassment when she refused to have a sexual relationship with her supervisor Srinath, who is the senior vice president, legal, and corporate secretary at iGate.

The company confirmed that the case had been filed. “We have completed a thorough investigation into this claim, and have found that it is unequivocally without merit. We intend to vigorously defend this action. iGate has a zero tolerance policy on harassment of any kind, and is committed to maintaining a caring and nurturing workplace,” iGate said in a statement

Dodd alleged in her complaint that Srinath “retaliated by taking negative employment actions against her”. She has also said other seniorlevel executives subjected her to “negative employment actions when plaintiff gave truthful testimony about the possible sexual harassment of another iGate employee Araceli Roiz at the hands of iGate CEO Phaneesh Murthy”.

In May 2013, then CEO Murthy was fired from iGate for failing to disclose his relationship with a subordinate, Roiz, and alleged sexual harassment.

The case was settled out of court. Dodd is based in the US and Srinath in Bengaluru. Dodd alleged iGate took no action when she complained against inappropriate sexual behaviour by Srinath in 2013. Dodd also said she was subjected to harassment twice — once when Srinath visited the US in April 2012 and again in September when Dodd came to India for official work.