Indigo Airlines is facing serious allegations of Casteism. A 35-year-old trainee pilot, who belongs to a Scheduled Caste, has accused three senior officials of caste-based harassment and verbal abuse at the company’s Gurugram headquarters. The case has triggered a police investigation and sparked widespread debate on workplace discrimination in the country.

The incident reportedly took place during a meeting on 28 April at the airline’s corporate office. According to the complaint, the trainee pilot was asked by one of the officials to leave his phone and bag outside in a manner he found demeaning. During the meeting, the officials allegedly made casteist remarks, telling him, “You are not fit to fly an aircraft, go back and stitch slippers,” and, “You are not even worthy of being a watchman here.” The pilot alleges that such comments were intended to humiliate him on the basis of his caste identity and to pressure him into resigning from his post.

The pilot, identified as Sharan Kumar, claimed that the harassment was not limited to verbal insults. He has alleged “professional victimisation” in the form of unjustified salary cuts, forced retraining, unwarranted warning letters, curtailed sick leaves, and revoked travel privileges. He said that despite raising these issues with senior management and the company’s ethics committee, no action was taken, leaving him with no choice but to approach the police.

FIR Registered, Airline Denies Allegations

The pilot’s father filed the initial complaint in Bengaluru, leading to a zero FIR—a type of police report that can be filed at any station regardless of where the alleged incident occurred. The case was then transferred to the DLF-1 police station in Gurugram, where the company is headquartered. The FIR has been registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), with sections covering intentional insults, intimidation, and criminal intimidation.

The airline has strongly denied all allegations, calling them “baseless.” In a statement, a spokesperson said the company maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of discrimination, harassment, or bias, and is committed to an inclusive and respectful workplace. The airline further stated that it will fully cooperate with law enforcement agencies during the investigation.

Online Backlash

News of the incident has led to significant backlash on social media, with many users expressing anger over the alleged discriminatory practices. The police have assured that a thorough investigation will be conducted and appropriate legal action taken if the allegations are found to be true.

The case has once again brought the issue of caste-based discrimination in Indian workplaces to the forefront. While the airline has denied the charges and reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, the outcome of the police investigation will be closely watched by both the aviation industry and the wider public.