Bengaluru: A State Bank of Mysore employee has allegedly been forced to withdraw her sexual harassment complaint against her seniors so that her transfer orders can be executed according to her choice within the close proximity of her area of residence.
“I was told by chief manager Maane that I had to withdraw the sexual harassment complaint for getting appropriate transfers,” said the victim.
Being a widow and single mother, Shyamala Bai (name changed) alleges that she had been subjected to sexual harassment at workplace by seniors, both branch manager and assistant manager.
“The inappropriate advances began over the last couple of years. Initially, I put up with it as talking about it to others would embarrass me. As the days went by, this started increasing and when I did not oblige them, they foisted a false case of misappropriating '20,000 on me. They took my sign forcefully and then issued a memo soon after, and subsequently a transfer order,” Ms Shyamala said.
While the assistant manager, Jayaram, was quoted as saying to Shyamala: “I haven’t slept with my wife over the last four years, can you be of some help?”
Branch manager Sunil Kumar was quoted by Ms Shyamala as saying: “I want to look like a young boy, I know you have the medicine? I love to look young like you.”
Both the managers of Yeshwantpur Market Yard Branch of SBM have been accused of sexually and mentally torturing the victim at the workplace and a complaint was lodged by Shyamala to the sexual harassment committee at SBM.
“I lodged a complaint with the sexual harassment cell at the SBM’s head office, but no action has been initiated against anybody and I am walking from pillar to post requesting not to transfer from my place of residence,” said Ms Shyamala.
The managers who were upset with her internal complaint got furious when she sought permission from the head office to lodge a police complaint. They contacted the head office and got formalities done to transfer her to K.R. Puram branch, more than 25 km from her residence.
