Priyanka Tiwari
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A viral video showing disturbing treatment of employees at a private marketing firm in Kochi, Kerala, has prompted swift action from the state labour department, police, and human rights bodies. The visuals included a man crawling on his knees with a leash around his neck, and another clip showing employees undressing under direction.
100% literate State #Kerala: Shocking video claiming to be of Employees of a company getting punished for missing Sales Targets goes viral. Allegedly they were forced to Crawl, Lick spit & Bark like dogs. #kerala #dog #man #bengaluru #bangalorepic.twitter.com/swrzstycf9
— Bawaali Shots (@BawaaliShots) April 6, 2025
Kerala Labour Minister V Sivankutty labeled the footage as “shocking and disturbing” and ordered a formal inquiry. The district labour officer has been instructed to submit a detailed report following the investigation.
Contested Narrative: Orchestrated Defamation or Workplace Abuse?
While the visuals sparked outrage online, some employees of the firm have claimed that the incident was not an act of workplace harassment but an orchestrated attempt to tarnish the company's image.
According to The Week, the video was recorded around six months ago by a former manager named Manaf, who has since left the company. He allegedly claimed the footage was intended “for training purposes,” but later leaked it with the intent to defame the firm after developing personal animosity toward a senior manager named Ubail.
Employees Deny Abuse Claims, Say Video Misused
One employee seen in the viral video alleged that Manaf orchestrated the act when manager Ubail was on leave. “I was told to hold the leash. I informed Ubail about it once he returned, and an internal inquiry was launched. Manaf was terminated from his role due to this incident,” the employee told Manorama Online.
The individual shown crawling in the video also denied being mistreated, stating he remains employed at the company and that the incident has been misrepresented to target the firm's owner.
Legal and Human Rights Involvement
The Kerala State Human Rights Commission registered a case based on a complaint filed by advocate Kulathoor Jaisingh. Commission Chairman M Shajar emphasized that such acts are unacceptable in a democratic society and must face legal consequences.
Police authorities confirmed that no formal complaint has been lodged yet, though they are aware of the video and have begun preliminary inquiries. Station House Officer Rajesh M K said the video was allegedly taken for training and has not resulted in a police case as of now.
Previous Allegations Against the Firm's Owner
Reports also suggest that the firm's owner had previously been arrested in connection with a separate sexual assault case, adding to the controversy surrounding the company.
