Woman chef accuses former colleague of harassment, threats at Ahmedabad hotel

A 22-year-old woman from Hooghly in West Bengal has lodged a police complaint alleging sustained mental harassment, abuse, and extortion threats by a former colleague during her employment at a hotel in Ahmedabad.

Anandita Maiti, a resident of Shyampuri in Hooghly, told police that she had worked as a chef at Hotel Pride Plaza in Bodakdev between March and August 2023. During this period, she alleged that a colleague, identified as Sameer Sahoo alias Saheer Sadhu, a cook from Kharagpur, West Bengal, subjected her to continuous harassment.

Maiti stated that Sahoo repeatedly used obscene language, threatened to kill her, and pressured her to enter into a relationship with him. When she resisted, he allegedly intensified the harassment, eventually forcing her to resign from her position.

The complaint further notes that after she left the hotel, Sahoo continued to call her and her family, demanding ₹50,000 in cash and threatening her parents, who reside in Hooghly.

On the basis of her statement, a Zero FIR was lodged at the Baliapanda police station in Kolkata under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to criminal intimidation, harassment, and extortion. The case was later transferred to the Vastrapur police station in Ahmedabad for investigation.

“The complaint alleges sustained harassment both during employment and afterwards, involving threats and demands for money. An FIR has been registered and further investigation is underway,” a senior police officer said.

Police said they are currently verifying Sahoo’s whereabouts in Ahmedabad. The accused is yet to be taken into custody.

What is a Zero FIR?

A Zero FIR is a First Information Report (FIR) that can be registered at any police station in the country, irrespective of where the offence occurred. It is designed to ensure that victims of serious crimes receive immediate police assistance without delays due to jurisdictional issues.