If one were to see the number of articles on IGate’s ex-CEO Phaneesh Murthy’s recent scandal, one would instantly feel that this man must be an ogre who eats nubile maidens for breakfast! Look at his past record: he was sacked earlier from Infosys Ltd., for the same reason as now – sexual harassment. So who is the culprit here? Is it only Phaneesh Murthy, is it the lady in question (do understand that she was the head of her department) or is it IGate which employed a tainted individual for its top post, made the most of it and then gave him the royal boot when faced with a problem?

IGate is definitely no babe-in-the-woods. It knew about the problems that cost Phaneesh his job at Infosys Ltd. If the board of directors of IGate overlooked these problems while hiring Phaneesh, it is obvious that they knew that the benefit of hiring Phaneesh was way more than the cost of facing a sexual harassment case in the future. And Phaneesh did do his best for this company. Phaneesh was the face of IGate and was responsible for bringing to the table the takeover of Patni Computers and many million dollar deals. Obviously the colour of money was brighter than the stain in his character.

Today IGate wants to show the world that they have a reputation to protect and that they will not tolerate any sexual misconduct in the company. Right! Zero tolerance policy in action when forced to face a lawsuit.

“Ms Araceli Roiz was dependent on her continued employment for her basic living expenses and, further, Mr Murthy conditioned her further employment and career advancement opportunities on her entering into a relationship with him which, eventually and reluctantly, she did.” This is the statement given by Ms. Roiz’s law firm which is fighting her case, as the reason for her becoming a victim to Phaneesh’s roving eye. Now to a lay person like me it translates as Ms. Roiz used Phaneesh too sufficiently enough to rise higher in her post at IGate ie. career advancement, howsoever ‘unwilling’. Ms. Roiz was the chief of PR in IGate … definitely she could have opted to look for employment elsewhere. She is no teenager, she is a mature educated lady ... In fact her behavior reminded me of a Hindi film side-heroine who becomes pregnant thanks to the villain.

And finally Phaneesh Murthy, the villain of the piece! One wonders about the value systems that were indoctrinated into him when he was young. He is married, he is educated and he is rich. Sounds like the perfect cocktail for becoming a hero and instead he behaves like a lustful beast. Not once, but many times, with total impunity. One would have thought that after Infosys he would have learnt his lessons and would savor the gift of a second chance. But his ego and megalomania led him to manipulate another woman, treating her as a lesser human being. His suggestion to Ms. Roiz to abort his baby was not just cold hearted, it was ruthless. For him women are to be treated as toys or tissue papers – use and throw. When people in his position repeat such offenses, it sends a strong wrongful message to all the male employees in the company. Such an action should not be tolerated in the least, else many more women will fall prey to such behavior at IGate and many other companies. All that women have worked for to be treated as equal partners at the business place, will go to naught otherwise. Mr. Phaneesh Murthy deserves a strong verdict against his behavior and more than the Honorable Judge I hope his circle of friends and relatives will do it.