When there is an anonymous blog alleging sexual harassment in an online space, like in the case of The Viral Fever (TVF), what does it really mean for an employer in India, whether you are in an online or brick and mortar business? As so much has happened in this case, before we continue let’s try and put few basic pieces of the events, as reported, together.
The anonymous blog on the Medium first appeared on 12th March, 2017 (please note that this blog has now been suspended by the Medium but some parts of the blog have been reported here). As reported, in reply to this blog on 13th March, 2017, TVF was quick to state “We will leave no stone unturned to find the author of the article and bring them to severe justice for making such false allegations” and called it “ludicrous and defamatory” and “categorically false, baseless and unverified”. Thereafter, by 14th March, 2017 several other complaints followed including by a neighbor and a former classmate of his and statements like ‘He Slid His Hands Down My Back, From Neck to Waist’, ‘He Came From Behind and Held Me, Even When I Told Him to Move Away’ and ‘Arunabh Asked Me If I Would Strip Naked for Him’ were made. Complaints/statements also surfaced Facebook.
