IOB assistant manager alleges caste abuse by superiors; police probe underway

Kochi: An assistant manager at the Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has alleged caste-based abuse and physical assault by his superiors, with police investigations now progressing in the case. The incident, reported by Kerala Kaumudi, has raised serious concerns about workplace harassment and caste discrimination within the bank.

The victim, a Dalit youth from Mulavukad, lodged a complaint with the Ernakulam Central Police in December, accusing senior officials of subjecting him to degrading tasks and verbal abuse based on his caste identity. The accused are Kashmir Singh, Assistant General Manager of the IOB Kochi Regional Office, and Nitish Kumar Sinha, Chief Regional Manager.

According to the complaint, the assistant manager was regularly instructed to perform menial tasks unrelated to his job, such as buying tea and medicine for his superiors, watering plants at the regional office, and even printing bank passbooks for their family members. The victim’s wife described the ordeal, stating, “It was caste-based abuse. When he objected once, he was beaten. He had initially filed a complaint with the Mulavukad police but later withdrew it after being threatened.”

The case, which falls under the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, has seen some developments. The police have confirmed that Kashmir Singh, himself belonging to a Scheduled Caste, will be removed from the list of accused as the Act cannot be applied against him. Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court has granted anticipatory bail to Nitish Kumar Sinha, and no arrests have been recorded so far.

The investigation has since been transferred to Ernakulam Assistant Commissioner K Jayakumar, who is expected to file a chargesheet soon. However, the victim’s family has expressed frustration over the bank’s refusal to provide CCTV footage that could substantiate the allegations.

“The officials continue to obstruct access to crucial evidence. We just want justice,” the victim’s wife said.

The case has sparked widespread outrage, with activists and bank employee unions demanding accountability and transparency from IOB management. As the investigation unfolds, the focus remains on ensuring a fair and impartial inquiry into the serious allegations of caste-based discrimination in the workplace.