Web portal Newslaundry is facing questions from former employees over its handling of workplace sexual harassment complaints and the implementation of its Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) mechanisms.
The removal prompted former Newslaundry employees to raise questions about the organisation’s own approach to workplace sexual harassment.
I also hope the day comes when they reflect just as seriously on the sexual harassment complaints within their own newsroom.”Really appreciate it.
I also hope the day comes when they reflect just as seriously on the sexual harassment complaints within their own newsroom.
Demanding total transparency from others while ignoring sexual harassment complaints and toxic behaviour in their own newsroom.
Web portal Newslaundry is facing questions from former employees over its handling of workplace sexual harassment complaints and the implementation of its Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) mechanisms.
It is not clear whether the former women employees who raised concerns had filed complaints against Abhinandan Sekhri or any of Newslaundry’s senior editors. The organisation, which has around 45 employees, had fewer than 10 women employees, some of whom have raised concerns about misogynistic comments and inappropriate workplace behaviour.
The questions emerged after Newslaundry removed a 2014 article on the sexual assault case involving former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal. Titled “Letter To Ms Tehelka-Assault-Victim”, the piece was written by Nirupama Sekhri, sister of Newslaundry founder Abhinandan Sekhri, and published in the aftermath of the allegations against Tejpal.
In a note retained at the article’s original URL, Newslaundry said the piece no longer reflected the values that guide its journalism, citing developments in the law, changing public understanding, the #MeToo movement and the experiences of survivors. The organisation said it had consequently decided to remove the article.
The removal prompted former Newslaundry employees to raise questions about the organisation’s own approach to workplace sexual harassment.
Former senior correspondent Sumedha Mittal responded to a post about the article’s removal, writing, “Really appreciate it. I also hope the day comes when they reflect just as seriously on the sexual harassment complaints within their own newsroom.”
Really appreciate it. I also hope the day comes when they reflect just as seriously on the sexual harassment complaints within their own newsroom. — Sumedha (@TweetSumedha) August 7, 2026
Another former employee, Priya, questioned the functioning of Newslaundry’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), claiming that employees had not been informed about changes to its composition. “ICC committee is taken so lightly. 2 people from ICC committee left, but we were never informed about its reshuffling process, and who replaced these people.”
Mittal subsequently expressed support for Priya, writing, “She is the youngest woman to speak up. I hope that after this they will take POSH seriously. So proud of you.”
She is the youngest woman to speak up. I hope that after this they will take POSH seriously. So proud of you @phoenix_wing16. ❤️ https://t.co/BJXUiFhpH1 — Sumedha (@TweetSumedha) August 8, 2026
Former employee Nikita Singh also raised questions about POSH compliance and gender-sensitivity training at the organisation.
“There are many questions that follow. Is the newsroom truly POSH compliant and is there mandatory training towards gender sensitivity?”
There are many questions that follow. Is the newsroom truly POSH compliant and is there mandatory training towards gender sensitivity? — Nikita Singh (@Nikitavs) August 8, 2026
Mittal later said Singh was the third former employee to raise questions about POSH implementation at Newslaundry, writing, “Third former employee has raised questions about implementation of the POSH at Newslaundry. It says a lot about their work culture.”
Another former Newslaundry employee, Priyanka Ishwari, raised concerns about workplace conduct. She said senior journalists should be trained not to shout at women editors and alleged that male reporters should be taught to behave professionally around female colleagues.
Also hope they train senior journos not to scream at women editors and threaten them saying "Kabse dekha raha hun mein tereko" over work calls. Training male reporters to behave professionally arnd female colleagues and not make the office a boy's lockeroom maybe too much to ask? — Priyanka Ishwari (@properpahari) August 7, 2026
2014 article removed
The 2014 article questioned the complainant's account of the incident, including why she entered a lift with Tejpal a second time and why she did not immediately report the alleged assault to hotel authorities or the police. It repeatedly described her approach as “bubblegum feminism” and questioned her response to the incident, including her treatment of Tejpal and his family.
Independent journalist Kalpana Sharma wrote, “That letter published in 2014 on the #TarunTejpal sexual assault issue, widely discussed after the Bombay High Court overturned the trial court's decision, has been taken down by Newslaundry.”
That letter published in 2014 on the #TarunTejpal sexual assault issue, widely discussed after the Bombay High Court overturned the trial court's decision, has been taken down by @newslaundry pic.twitter.com/aiTftcDmXp — Kalpana Sharma (@kalpana1947) August 7, 2026
“They use the female employees to attack women. All their funders understand it. When they get attacked, these same complicit women come forward to claim victimhood & shield the organisation. It’s called genderising,” Abhijit Iyer Mitra wrote.
That’s their business model. They use the female employees to attack women. All their funders understand it. When they get attacked, these same complicit women come forward to claim victimhood & shield the organisation. It’s called genderising. https://t.co/vPleF8TOiB — Abhijit Iyer-Mitra (@Iyervval) August 9, 2026
“This is the most repulsive tripe I’ve ever read - this sort of victim blaming used to pass for “progressive” in 2014?,” wrote an X user.
“Newslaundry should answer the questions it would relentlessly ask of any other newsroom: Were complaints made? Who investigated them? What process was followed? Were complainants heard? What action was taken? You cannot demand transparency from everyone else while hiding behind silence when the questions point inward,” wrote another.
Newslaundry’s Moral High Ground Has a Very Dirty Basement Newslaundry has spent years lecturing everyone else about journalistic ethics, institutional accountability and the treatment of women.
Now, after removing its own 2014 article on the Tarun Tejpal case, it says its… pic.twitter.com/X1TZfLKMol
— Sameer (@BesuraTaansane) August 9, 2026
“No apology and no explanation why it was allowed to be published. The worst form of gaslighting and the article was on their site even yesterday (read it for the first time) until the furore happened,” pointed another user.
“Newslaundry’s integrity clearly ends at their front door,” read an X post.
Demanding total transparency from others while ignoring sexual harassment complaints and toxic behaviour in their own newsroom.@newslaundry’s integrity clearly ends at their front door. https://t.co/XfYND5Usax — Desi Thug (@desi_thug1) August 9, 2026
“It's an awful disgusting opinion piece carried by Newslaundry in 2014, which tore into the victim, in the Tarun Tejpal case. Written by Abhinandan Sekhri's sister,” a comment read.
It's an awful disgusting opinion piece carried by Newslaundry in 2014, which tore into the victim, in the Tarun Tejpal case. Written by Abhinandan Sekhri's sister. — ranjona banerji ???????? (@ranjona) August 8, 2026
“You can’t demand transparency from every other media house while staying silent when the questions point home. Selective morality isn’t journalism.”
Newslaundry just took down its 2014 Tejpal letter after the HC conviction, saying its “understanding has evolved.”
Fair point. But two ex-staffers are now publicly asking when the same reflection will apply to alleged sexual harassment complaints and toxic behaviour inside their… pic.twitter.com/9sbz6Ubbn4 — Roop Darak (@RoopDarak) August 9, 2026
The renewed scrutiny comes against the backdrop of developments in the Tarun Tejpal case. The Bombay High Court overturned Tejpal's earlier acquittal in the 2013 sexual assault case and convicted him, sentencing him to 10 years in prison.
Manisha Pande, Editor-in-Chief at Newslaundry, shared the following response to our queries: "Over the years, Newslaundry’s workplace harassment committee has addressed all complaints of workplace harassment it has received, resulting in dismissals and suspensions where warranted. None of these complaints were against the CEO of Newslaundry. I have seen the comments on social media from former colleagues and have already reached out to two of them who raised specific issues. The external member in the committee held a PoSH training program in November 2025."
Storyboard18 has also reached out to Abhinandan Sekhri for his response to allegations concerning his involvement in handling the complaints, as well as to clarify whether any of the former female employees have specifically made complaints against him. This story will be updated if and when a response is received.
First Published on August 9, 2026, 18:05:15 IST
