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India’s #Weinstein moment happened last year. Just that we choose to bury our head in sand. Heard of a man named Mahesh Murthy? #metoo 1/n
Six women –three on record –spoke about what @maheshmurthy did to them 2003 to 2016. This was my story last May: factordaily.com/mahesh-murthy-… 2/n
The creepiest story was how in 2003 Murthy preyed on @swatisays – just 19 years old then. A Reuters reporter now, she wanted closure. 3/n
Swati recounts physical, verbal abuse – and trauma. “You didn’t tell me what size you were,” Murthy pinged her after the incident. 4/n
Murthy’s transgressions were as recent as 2016 when he propositioned a government officer. “Can I go down on you,” he asked. 5/n
Many in the tech and VC world knew of Murthy’s brazen, unlawful deeds. But, no one sounded the alarm. 6/n
An IT services giant, whose marketing executive he propositioned, “Are you a virgin?” asking her out to Goa, acted: it blacklisted him. 7/n
It chose not to work with Murthy’s firm,Pinstorm: perhaps the only time Corporate India stood against him.Story: factordaily.com/indian-it-comp… 8/n
I even named 29 corporate leaders while asking “Why don’t our CEOs stand up against our ‘bro culture’?” factordaily.com/opinions/ceos-… 9/n
Two replied. Just two. It showed how little the CEOs cared about women, who count for about 25% of the Indian tech workforce. 10/n
The Murthy-abused women who told us their stories are brave, brave women. Some 20 others spoke but didn’t want their stories narrated. 11/n
Murthy has impleaded @factorDaily, me, 4 others in a defamation case originally against 12 others including @YourStoryCo. 12/n
An @EconomicTimes writer tried to dig on the story but Murthy has sought to implead him in the case, too. 13/n
When there is something of import to report in the case, I will do so. Suffice to say, @factordaily and I are fighting it. 14/n
India’s #Weinstein or not, there seems little doubt that Murthy has wronged women. If so, he needs to be tried for it. #metoo 15/15
if you have a similar story to share about anyone, please drop an email, anonymous or fake ID if you like, pankaj@factordaily.com #MeToo
we will do investigative journalism wherever required in public spirit. u can create disposable email at getnada.com etc #MeToo
Have lost respect for many tech,startup leaders and self proclaimed media, civic activists fighting convenient battles, ignoring sexism
The two who replied are @mrgirish and @sahilbarua , the founders of @FreshworksInc and @delhivery . Kudos to them.
