Woman alleges ‘quid pro quo’ sexual harassment at Pune Spanish firm, says she was fired

The Pune woman has said she was pressured to sign the termination letter and threatened with damage to her career when she refused. (AI generated image) A woman has filed a police complaint alleging that she was subjected to “quid pro quo” sexual harassment by senior officials at a Spanish multinational company in Pune district, claiming she was promised salary hikes and promotions if she became “closer” to them, and was later terminated after raising objections. In a complaint lodged at the area police station on May 5, the woman alleged that the company’s HR head and CEO subjected her to unwelcome advances after she joined the firm in March 2024. She claimed she was promoted to the HR/Admin Executive position in September that year. According to the complaint, the alleged harassment began in December 2024, when the two officials started making objectionable remarks, attempted to get physically close to her, and looked at her with “wrong intentions”. She described it as a case of “quid pro quo” sexual harassment. Constant humiliation The woman further alleged that she was repeatedly humiliated between May and November 2025 and threatened with termination. She claimed she submitted written complaints to the company’s management in June, September, and November 2025, but no formal inquiry was initiated. However, she alleged, her services were terminated on April 16 this year on the grounds of “role redundancy”. She further claimed she was pressured to sign the termination letter and threatened with damage to her career when she refused. The woman submitted copies of email exchanges, WhatsApp messages, voice recordings, and other documents along with her police complaint. Speaking to The Indian Express, the complainant said, “As I refused to sign the termination letter and decided to go for legal options against the harassment done to me, the company set up an internal committee (IC) for an inquiry. But I came to know that my cross-examination would be conducted by the respondent (the person who harassed me). I have raised objections to it…. I also submitted a complaint to the Maharashtra State Commission for Women.” CM’s assuranceStory continues below this ad Meanwhile, Manisha Kayande of the Shiv Sena raised the issue in the Maharashtra Legislative Council Thursday, demanding strict action against the Spanish multinational company and the individuals involved in harassing the woman. Replying to Kayande, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that a senior officer would conduct an inquiry within 15 days and assured that action would be taken against the company or individuals found guilty. The woman said that after the chief minister’s statement, she received a call from the district-level Local Complaints Committee (LCC), constituted under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act, to examine workplace sexual harassment complaints. “I have not yet received any calls from the police,” she added. The Indian Express has reached out to the company for its response. This report will be updated when a response is received. © The Indian Express Pvt Ltd Chandan Haygunde is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With over 20 years of experience in journalism, he is one of the region's most authoritative voices on crime, national security, and legal affairs. Professional Profile Specialization: He specialises covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. While working on the ‘Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation’ in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He is at the helm of the widely read weekly