"This Can Happen To Anyone": Woman Alleges A Jindal Group Executive Groped Her On Plane

A woman has alleged that a top executive at Jindal Group groped her aboard a flight from Kolkata to Abu Dhabi (transit to Boston). She revealed this incident on X referring to the accused in his 60s, Dinesh Kumar Saraogi, as the senior executive of one of the companies promoted by Jindal Group. As per reports, the alleged accused is the CEO of Oman-based Vulcan Green Steel. MP and Jindal Steel chairman Naveen Jindal has now responded to the woman's tweet and has assured that investigation and action will be taken. 

As per her tweet, the woman was travelling from Kolkata to Abu Dhabi via Etihad Airways. From Abu Dhabi, she had to transit to Boston. Her seat was next to the accused, who offered her to watch a movie which turned out to be porn. 

Woman Alleges Jindal Steel Executive Groped Her On Plane 

The woman, helplessly, rushed to the washroom and complained to the airline staff. The staff took swift action by informing the Abu Dhabi police who waited for the alleged accused industrialist at the gate of the flight as soon as it landed. The staff also made the woman sit in their seating area and offered her tea and fruits. 

The woman is a co-chair of the India Conference at Harvard as per her description on X. Writing about the incident, she said, "Sharing an incident that happened with me in the flight from Calcutta to Abu Dhabi (transit to Boston). I am very grateful to the staff of Etihad and the Abu Dhabi police for the support they provided me.”

Sharing an incident that happened with me in the flight from Calcutta to Abu Dhabi (transit to Boston).

I am very grateful to the staff of @__Etiihad and the Abu Dhabi police for the support they provided me.

TW: Sexual Assault

— Ananya Chhaochharia (She/her) (@ananyac05) July 18, 2024

What happened on the flight?

She further added, "He must be roughly 65 in age and told me he now lives in Oman but travels frequently. He started chatting me up – very normal conversation about our roots, family, etc. He is from Churu in Rajasthan… The conversation moved to what my hobbies are. He asked if I enjoy watching movies and I was like of course. He then proceeds to tell me he has some movie clips on his phone. He whips out his phone and earphones to show me PORN.”

She further wrote, "he started groping me” and added, “I was frozen in shock and scared. I eventually ran off to the washroom and complained to the air staff. Thankfully the Etihad team was very proactive and took action immediately. They made me sit at their seating area and served me tea and fruits." 

She added, "He kept calling them to ask where I had gone. The staff also informed the cops at Abu Dhabi who were waiting as soon as the gates of the aircraft opened. I could not proceed with a complaint because I would have missed my connecting flight to Boston.”

As per the tweet, she was "escorted to the next gate to ensure he does not come near me. He also did not deny this when the cops asked him questions."

The woman criticised the leadership of the Jindal groups

Ending her post, the woman wrote, “I am sharing this because I want to remind everyone that something like this can happen to anyone. I am working to get this incident out to the founder of Jindal Steel, MP Naveen Jindal, so that he is aware of the kind of people who are in leadership. I am also afraid of how this molester must be treating his female employees from a place of power.”

On the other hand, Naveen Jindal has replied to the post and said, “Thank you for reaching out and speaking up. It takes a lot of courage to do what you did and I want you to know that we have a zero-tolerance policy for such matters. I have asked the team to immediately investigate the matter and thereafter strictest and necessary action will be taken.”