Chairman and managing director of Bridge & Roof Co. (India) Ltd Mahendra Kumar Singh, accused of sexually harassing a female staff, was on Thursday suspended, following a directive issued by President Pranab Mukherjee.
“Pursuant to the order received from the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, the President in exercise of the powers conferred by rule 28 (I) of Conduct, Discipline and Review Rules for officers of Bridge & Roof Company (India) Ltd has placed MK Singh, chairman and managing director of B&R under suspension with immediate effect, pending enquiry,” states a circular issued by Company Secretary R Kar, dated May 26, 2016.
Despite the charges framed against Singh, which were found to be true by an internal enquiry committee, the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprise had given a six-month extension to him.
Singh, was accused of sexual harassment by one of the female employees at Bridge & Roof Co. (India) Ltd. Kolkata. But no action was taken against him at that time. He had also managed to stop terminal dues of another woman employee, Linda Allen, who was the chairperson of the panel.
A woman employee filed a complaint against Singh, accusing him “indecent behaviour”. Serving 33 years in Bridge & Roof Co. (India) Ltd, she had alleged that since 2011, when Singh joined the company, she faced ‘tremendous strain and mental stress’ due to the ‘harassment and humiliation’ she faced at the hands of Singh.
Singh was reappointed the CMD of Bridge & Roof Co Ltd under the Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprise, by the Government of India in an order dated June 5, 2015. When he was given the charge on September 2, 2013, he ordered that the ICC be reconstituted on September 13 with Namrata Mehta as its presiding officer.