Internet portal Newslaundry is going through questions from former staff over its dealing with of office sexual harassment complaints and the implementation of its Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) mechanisms.
It isn’t clear whether or not the previous girls staff who raised issues had filed complaints in opposition to Abhinandan Sekhri or any of Newslaundry’s senior editors. The organisation, which has round 45 staff, had fewer than 10 girls staff, a few of whom have raised issues about misogynistic feedback and inappropriate office behaviour.
The questions emerged after Newslaundry eliminated a 2014 article on the sexual assault case involving former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal. Titled “Letter To Ms Tehelka-Assault-Sufferer”, the piece was written by Nirupama Sekhri, sister of Newslaundry founder Abhinandan Sekhri, and printed within the aftermath of the allegations in opposition to Tejpal.
In a notice retained on the article’s authentic URL, Newslaundry stated the piece not mirrored the values that information its journalism, citing developments within the legislation, altering public understanding, the #MeToo motion and the experiences of survivors. The organisation stated it had consequently determined to take away the article.
The removing prompted former Newslaundry staff to boost questions in regards to the organisation’s personal method to office sexual harassment.
Former senior correspondent Sumedha Mittal responded to a put up in regards to the article’s removing, writing, “Actually admire it. I additionally hope the day comes after they mirror simply as severely on the sexual harassment complaints inside their very own newsroom.”
Actually admire it. I additionally hope the day comes after they mirror simply as severely on the sexual harassment complaints inside their very own newsroom.
— Sumedha (@TweetSumedha) August 7, 2026
One other former worker, Priya, questioned the functioning of Newslaundry’s Inner Complaints Committee (ICC), claiming that staff had not been knowledgeable about modifications to its composition. “ICC committee is taken so flippantly. 2 individuals from ICC committee left, however we had been by no means knowledgeable about its reshuffling course of, and who changed these individuals.”
Mittal subsequently expressed assist for Priya, writing, “She is the youngest lady to talk up. I hope that after this they may take POSH severely. So happy with you.”
She is the youngest lady to talk up. I hope that after this they may take POSH severely. So happy with you @phoenix_wing16. ❤️ https://t.co/BJXUiFhpH1
— Sumedha (@TweetSumedha) August 8, 2026
Former worker Nikita Singh additionally raised questions on POSH compliance and gender-sensitivity coaching on the organisation.
“There are numerous questions that comply with. Is the newsroom actually POSH compliant and is there necessary coaching in direction of gender sensitivity?”
There are numerous questions that comply with. Is the newsroom actually POSH compliant and is there necessary coaching in direction of gender sensitivity?
— Nikita Singh (@Nikitavs) August 8, 2026
Mittal later stated Singh was the third former worker to boost questions on POSH implementation at Newslaundry, writing, “Third former worker has raised questions on implementation of the POSH at Newslaundry. It says rather a lot about their work tradition.”
One other former Newslaundry worker, Priyanka Ishwari, raised issues about office conduct. She stated senior journalists must be educated to not shout at girls editors and alleged that male reporters must be taught to behave professionally round feminine colleagues.
Additionally hope they prepare senior journos to not scream at girls editors and threaten them saying “Kabse dekha raha hun mein tereko” over work calls. Coaching male reporters to behave professionally arnd feminine colleagues and never make the workplace a boy’s lockeroom perhaps an excessive amount of to ask?
— Priyanka Ishwari (@properpahari) August 7, 2026
2014 article eliminated
The 2014 article questioned the complainant’s account of the incident, together with why she entered a elevate with Tejpal a second time and why she didn’t instantly report the alleged assault to lodge authorities or the police. It repeatedly described her method as “bubblegum feminism” and questioned her response to the incident, together with her remedy of Tejpal and his household.
Impartial journalist Kalpana Sharma wrote, “That letter printed in 2014 on the #TarunTejpal sexual assault subject, broadly mentioned after the Bombay Excessive Court docket overturned the trial court docket’s choice, has been taken down by Newslaundry.”
That letter printed in 2014 on the #TarunTejpal sexual assault subject, broadly mentioned after the Bombay Excessive Court docket overturned the trial court docket’s choice, has been taken down by @newslaundry pic.twitter.com/aiTftcDmXp
— Kalpana Sharma (@kalpana1947) August 7, 2026
“They use the feminine staff to assault girls. All their funders perceive it. After they get attacked, these identical complicit girls come ahead to say victimhood & defend the organisation. It’s known as genderising,” Abhijit Iyer Mitra wrote.
That’s their enterprise mannequin. They use the feminine staff to assault girls. All their funders perceive it. After they get attacked, these identical complicit girls come ahead to say victimhood & defend the organisation. It’s known as genderising. https://t.co/vPleF8TOiB
— Abhijit Iyer-Mitra (@Iyervval) August 9, 2026
“That is probably the most repulsive tripe I’ve ever learn – this kind of sufferer blaming used to move for “progressive” in 2014?,” wrote an X person.
“Newslaundry ought to reply the questions it could relentlessly ask of another newsroom: Have been complaints made? Who investigated them? What course of was adopted? Have been complainants heard? What motion was taken? You can’t demand transparency from everybody else whereas hiding behind silence when the questions level inward,” wrote one other.
Newslaundry’s Ethical Excessive Floor Has a Very Soiled Basement
Newslaundry has spent years lecturing everybody else about journalistic ethics, institutional accountability and the remedy of girls.
Now, after eradicating its personal 2014 article on the Tarun Tejpal case, it says its… pic.twitter.com/X1TZfLKMol
— Sameer (@BesuraTaansane) August 9, 2026
“No apology and no reason why it was allowed to be printed. The worst type of gaslighting and the article was on their web site even yesterday (learn it for the primary time) till the furore occurred,” pointed one other person.
“Newslaundry’s integrity clearly ends at their entrance door,” learn an X put up.
Demanding complete transparency from others whereas ignoring sexual harassment complaints and poisonous behaviour in their very own newsroom.@newslaundry’s integrity clearly ends at their entrance door. https://t.co/XfYND5Usax
— Desi Thug (@desi_thug1) August 9, 2026
“It is an terrible disgusting opinion piece carried by Newslaundry in 2014, which tore into the sufferer, within the Tarun Tejpal case. Written by Abhinandan Sekhri’s sister,” a remark learn.
It is an terrible disgusting opinion piece carried by Newslaundry in 2014, which tore into the sufferer, within the Tarun Tejpal case. Written by Abhinandan Sekhri’s sister.
— ranjona banerji ???????? (@ranjona) August 8, 2026
“You’ll be able to’t demand transparency from each different media home whereas staying silent when the questions level residence. Selective morality isn’t journalism.”
Newslaundry simply took down its 2014 Tejpal letter after the HC conviction, saying its “understanding has advanced.”
Truthful level. However two ex-staffers at the moment are publicly asking when the identical reflection will apply to alleged sexual harassment complaints and poisonous behaviour inside their… pic.twitter.com/9sbz6Ubbn4
— Roop Darak (@RoopDarak) August 9, 2026
The renewed scrutiny comes in opposition to the backdrop of developments within the Tarun Tejpal case. The Bombay High Court overturned Tejpal’s earlier acquittal in the 2013 sexual assault case and convicted him, sentencing him to 10 years in jail.
Storyboard18 has reached out to Newslaundry for his or her feedback. This story might be up to date if and when a response is acquired.
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