Mumbai: Mumbai Police filed an FIR on Thursday against a diamond export company under IPC Section 153 B for hurting religious sentiments. Hari Krishna Exports had rejected a job applicant, Zeshan Khan, on grounds that he was a Muslim and that it hired 'only non-Muslim candidates'.
"Zeshan Ali filed a complaint at the Vinoba Bhave Nagar Police Station. He said that he had applied for a job on the 19th in Hari Krishna Exports Pvt Ltd via an e-mail and the company replied that it does not hire Muslim candidates. An offence has been registered under Section 153 B for hurting religious sentiments. As per the law, there is a punishment of three years. After investigation, it will be revealed who is actually related to offence," Police inspector Suryakant Jagdale said.
Police inspector Suryakant Jagdale (Photo: Twitter)
Zeshan said that relevant sections were pressed and the case was not against any particular individual.
" Mumbai Police gave a lot of support. An FIR has been registered. Relevant sections have been pressed. The FIR will be transferred to the B K C Police Station. The FIR has not been registered against any individual, but against the company. Hope that such incidents are not repeated again," Zeshan told media persons.
However, the company has reportedly issued a clarification, saying the episode was an error and not their policy. It has also reportedly fired the HR trainee who sent the message. Zeshan Ali Khan had applied for an opening in the company on May 19 and, according to him, he received a response within 15 minutes, which said they hired only non-Muslim candidates.
Read: Management graduate from Mumbai denied job for being Muslim
"Thanks for your application. We regret to inform you that we hire only non-Muslim candidates," the company said in response to his application.
"I was looking for a job, I came to know about a recruitment drive taking place at Hare Krishna Exports Pvt LTD, one of the leading exports houses of the country. I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to start my career with them. I applied for a job day before yesterday in the evening at 5:45 PM and within 15 minutes I get a reply from them that we regret to inform you, we don't hire Muslims. We only hire non-Muslim candidates. I was quite shocked when I read about this, I took a screen shot of it and posted it on Facebook," he said.
"At a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting foreign countries and inviting them for investment and pushing ahead the 'Make in India' campaign, the leading export houses are rejecting candidates for their religion," he said.
Even as his social media posts triggered an outrage against the company, it sent a regret mail to Khan, blaming a trainee in its HR team with no decision-making powers for the "blunder".
"It was a blunder and personal mess created by one of our trainees who has no decision making power. We have 61 employees in our office here including one Muslim in the HR team," Hari Krishna Exports Private Ltd said in the mail.
