Cases of sexual harassments and assaults have been rocking many global corporations including new age disruptors – Google, Uber, and Facebook. Things aren’t different in India where Binny Bansal, one of the poster boys of the Indian startup ecosystem, had to resign from Walmart controlled Flipkart on the pretext of sexual harassment.
Binny’s resignation from Flipkart as Group CEO and Chairman of the company has stemmed from an allegation of sexual assault that occurred a few years ago, reports Reuters citing anonymous sources.
At the end of July, an allegation of sexual assault had surfaced against Binny reported by a former Flipkart associate. The complainant was not a Flipkart employee at the time of reporting the incident.
Bansal refuted the allegations while the independent enquiry by an independent law firm on behalf of Flipkart and Walmart didn’t find evidence to corroborate allegation against him. Though, a Walmart’s statement highlights that investigation reveal lapses in his judgement, particularly a lack of transparency.
The allegation of sexual assault against Binny has come at a time when many brave women are coming with the trauma they experienced in the past at the hands of famous and powerful.
The list includes central minister MJ Akbar, Vinod Dua and Gaurav Sawant (journalists), Utsav Chakraborty, Gursimran Khamba (All India Bakchod employee and co-founder), Chetan Bhagat (novelist) Arunabh Kumar (The Viral Fever’s co-founder & CEO), Suparn Pandey (ScoopWhoop co-founder) and several others.
Although details of sexual assault allegation against Binny is yet to be public, he had resigned from the Group’s CEO and Chairman of Flipkart. But, is it sufficient as he continues to be on board of the company?
It’s bizarre why is Binny still on the board of directors. If moral compass doesn’t allow him to be CEO, it’s not alright for him to be a board member.
