Mumbai firm rejects Muslim candidate's job application; police case registered

A 22-year-old MBA graduate was denied employment by a diamond export firm which said it hired only “non-Muslim candidates”.

Zeshan Ali Khan posted the rejection email by Hari Krishna Exports Private Limited on the social media. “Thanks for the application. We regret to inform you that we hire only Non-Muslim candidates,” the email said.

Following widespread condemnation, the company said it “deeply-regretted” the incident and blamed it on an “error” by a human resources trainee. The National Commission for Minorities asked the Maharashtra chief secretary to conduct an inquiry.

“We saw the reports in the media… We asked them (the state) to conduct an inquiry into the matter and revert to us,” a senior NCM official said.

Video: Muslim graduate's job application rejected

Khan later approached the police and filed a case against the firm.

A case was registered at the VB Nagar police station and was later transferred to the BKC police station, where the company has its office.

“I believed that multinational companies have liberal policies. The PM had said sabka saath, sabka vikas but we will not progress if candidates are rejected on the basis of their religion,” said Khan.

The company, however, clarified its stand on the issue.

"We would like to clarify that the company does not discriminate against candidates based on gender, caste, religion, etc," associate vice-president and the head of human resource department of the firm Mahendra S Deshmukh said. He said an HR trainee Dipika Tike had sent the “erroneous” email.

The company was in the news last year when it gave cars, jewellery and cash for its employees in Surat during Diwali.

Khan completed his MBA in International Business just a week ago from a Navi Mumbai college. Khan and two of his colleagues had applied for the job. Khan’s mother is battling a terminal disease and his grandmother, too, is ailing. He has been desperately looking for a job, said his family members.

Zeeshan’s father, Ali Ahmed Khan, who has a business supplying material for shoes, said, “I ensured that my son studied hard and spent a lot on his education and then we have to hear these kind of responses.”

The state government reacted to the issue saying action will be taken if the company violated the law. Minority affairs minister Eknath Khadse on Thursday said it is unfortunate that someone was denied a job on the basis of religion. ''Our constitution does not allow this kind of discrimination. This issue is being investigated and if it is found true then government will take action against the firm,'' he said.