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‘Played porn and started groping me’: Woman claims former Jindal Steel CEO sexually harassed her on Etihad flight

TheoJuly 20, 2024

Updated on July 20, 2024, 14:42 IST

In a post on X, a woman claimed she was sexually harassed by Dinesh Kumar Saraogi of Jindal Steel and tagged Naveen Jindal to bring the case to his attention. The woman said Saraogi showed her porn and groped her.

New Delhi: A woman claimed she was harassed by a former executive of Jindal Steel while she was travelling by plane from Kolkata to Abu Dhabi. The woman shared her ordeal on social media platform X, claiming that he showed her porn on his phone and started groping her.

In a post on X, the woman identified the man as Dinesh Kumar Saraogi and marked Jindal Chairman of the Steel Association Naveen Jindal to bring the matter to his attention. Although the woman said Saraogi was CEO of Jindal Steel, the company clarified that he was no longer a senior officer of Jindal Steel since last year.

“I am sharing an incident that happened to me on the flight from Kolkata to Abu Dhabi (connecting to Boston). I am very grateful to the airline staff and Abu Dhabi Police for the support they provided me. TW: Sexual assault,” she said in a post on X.

“I was sitting next to an industrialist (Dinesh Kr Saraogi, CEO of Jindal Steel). He must be around 65 years old and told me that he now lives in Oman but travels frequently. He started talking to me – a very normal conversation about our roots, family etc. He is from Churu in Rajasthan and his two sons are married and live in the US etc. The conversation turned to my hobbies. He asked if I like watching films and I said of course. Then he told me that he has some film clips on his phone. He takes out his phone and headphones to show me PORN!” she claimed in a post on X.

The woman went on to say that after all of this, she was “paralysed with shock and fear”.

“He started to grope me. I was paralyzed with shock and fear. Finally, I ran to the washroom and complained to the flight staff. Fortunately, Etihad “The team was very proactive and took immediate action. They provided me with a seating area and served me tea and fruit,” she added.

She said she “could not file a complaint because she would have missed my connecting flight to Boston.”

“He kept calling them to ask where I had gone. The staff also informed the police officers in Abu Dhabi, who were waiting as soon as the plane’s gates opened. I could not file a complaint because I would have missed my connecting flight to Boston. I was escorted to the next gate to make sure he did not get too close to me. He did not deny this even when the police officers asked him questions. I am telling this because I want to remind everyone that this can happen to anyone,” she said.

The woman also tagged Naveen Jindal, founder of Jindal Steel, and said, “I am working to inform the founder of Jindal Steel @MPNaveenJindal about this incident so that he knows what kind of people are in leadership positions. I am also scared of how this abuser must treat his female employees from a position of power.”

Naveen Jindal replies

Responding to the woman’s alleged allegations, Jindal Steel founder Naveen Jindal thanked the woman for coming forward and speaking out.

“…thank you for coming forward and voicing your opinion! It takes a lot of courage to do what you did and I want you to know that we have a zero-tolerance policy in such cases. I have asked the team to investigate the matter immediately and after that, the strictest and necessary action will be taken,” Naveen Jindal said in a post on X.

Who is Dinesh Kumar Saraogi?

The woman identified Dinesh Kumar Saraogi as CEO of Jindal Steel in her post, but the company clarified on July 19 that he had ceased to be the company’s CEO since last year. In a statement on Friday, Jindal Steel said Saraogi was currently serving as CEO of Vulcan Green Steel in Oman.

“Dinesh Kumar Saraogi, who is accused of harassing a woman on the Etihad flight, has not been a senior officer of Jindal Steel since last year. He is the CEO of Vulcan Green Steel, Oman and has no direct connection with the listed company Jindal Steel and Power,” the statement said.