Ex-employee accuses Ahmedabad firm executives of abuse, threats with licensed firearm

A 30-year-old administrative executive has filed a police complaint against two senior officials of an Ahmedabad-based private firm, alleging verbal abuse, casteist slurs, threats involving a licensed firearm, and workplace harassment spanning over several months.

The complaint, lodged at Bodakdev police station by Deepbhai Himanshubhai Bhatt, a resident of Satellite, names Vishal Dineshbhai Brahmbhatt, owner of Egniol Company, and Johnson Mathew, its CEO and additional director, as the accused.

As per the FIR, Bhatt, who previously worked with Egniol Company for nearly a decade, stated that he had initially raised concerns about complaints filed against the firm with the Prime Minister’s Office. In response, the company leadership allegedly dismissed his concerns, stating that their legal department would handle the matter.

Bhatt claims that whenever the police visited the company in connection with the complaints, the senior management would evade authorities, leaving junior staff like himself to face questioning. Matters came to a head on May 13, when Bhatt confronted Mathew at his office located at Science City Road, asking why the latter fled every time police officials arrived.

Mathew allegedly responded with verbal abuse, made casteist remarks, and threatened to kill Bhatt using his licensed firearm. “He told me he had a gun and would shoot me,” Bhatt stated in his complaint. Fearing retaliation or dismissal, Bhatt did not report the matter at the time.

A second incident allegedly occurred on June 17, when Bhatt was summoned by Vishal Brahmbhatt to Office No.1202 in the same building. There, Brahmbhatt reportedly hurled insults, accused him of spreading false information about the company, and verbally abused his family members. Bhatt was also fired on the spot, he said.

The complainant further alleged that multiple employees of the company are aware of the hostile environment and could corroborate the incidents.

Following the complaint, the Bodakdev police registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including those relating to criminal intimidation, intentional insult, and use of obscene language.

A senior officer from Bodakdev police station confirmed FIR has been lodged in the matter and an investigation started.