Published Aug 10, 2026 | 2:06 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 10, 2026 | 2:25 PM
It has been alleged that Newslaundry failed to take harassment complaints seriously. (Representational image/iStock)
Synopsis: Soon after the Bombay High Court had convicted and sentenced Tehelka’s former editor Tarun Tejpal in a rape case, Newslaundry withdrew a 2014 article, which many felt was scandalous. The taking down of the article prompted many former employees to call out the web portal for what they claimed was creating an atmosphere inimical towards staff.
Close on the heels of the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court convicting Tehelka‘s former editor Tarun Tejpal in a rape case involving a junior colleague, a few former employees of Newslaundry have questioned the web portal’s handling of workplace sexual harassment complaints and raised concerns of ‘toxic’ culture.
Taking to social media, many of them posed questions about the implementation of its Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) mechanisms at Newslaundry, co-founded by Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan and Prashant Sareen in February 2012.
The subscription-reliant portal came under fire after it removed a 2014 article, “Letter To Ms Tehelka-Assault Victim,” by Abhinandan Sekhri’s sister Nirupama Sekhri. The article was published immediately after the allegation of sexual misconduct was raised against Tejpal.
12 years after it was published, Newslaundry said it was withdrawing the 2014 article: “In light of legal developments, evolving public understanding, the #MeToo movement, and the experiences of countless survivors who have come forward, we believe this piece does not meet the values that guide our journalism today.”
The article’s removal triggered a flurry of activities. Newslaundry‘s former senior correspondent Sumedha Mittal responded to the withdrawal, saying, “Really appreciate it. I also hope the day comes when they reflect just as seriously on the sexual harassment complaints within their own newsrooms.”
Also Read: Bombay High Court finds Tarun Tejpal guilty of rape
Questions about ICC
Mittal’s X post soon found traction among former employees. Another former employee, Priya, questioned the handling of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). “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 [sic],” she posted on X.
Responding, Mittal said Priya was the youngest woman to speak up. “I hope that after this they will take POSH seriously. SO proud of you [sic],” she said, tagging Priya @phoenix_wing16.
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.
— Priya (@phoenix_wing16) August 8, 2026
Another former employee, Nikita Singh, raised more questions: “Is the newsroom truly POSH compliant and is there mandatory training towards gender sensitivity? [sic]” she asked on X.
Mittal backed Singh. “Third employee has raised questions about implementation of the POSH at Newslaundry. It says a lot about their work culture [sic].”
Another former employee, Priyanka Ishwari, was more specific. “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? [sic]” she posted on X.
Multimedia journalist and former employee of Newslaundry Shivangi Saxena came out in support of Mittal. “Huge shout out to @TweetSumedha for raising this. Every workplace should be a space where women can raise concerns without fear and where such concerns are heard fairly and responsibly. [sic]”
Huge shout out to @TweetSumedha for raising this. Every workplace should be a space where women can raise concerns without fear and where such concerns are heard fairly and responsibly.#sexualharassmentatworkplace pic.twitter.com/XJDj7tgw2O
— Shivangi Saxena (@shivangi441) August 9, 2026
Journalism teacher and author of two books, Sayantan Ghosh, recalled his days as a trainee journalist at Newslaundry in 2016.
“The space, as I experienced it, was extremely toxic. The language used by Abhinandan Sekhri towards employees was deeply hurtful to me. People around me told me that this was “normal” in the media—that this was how newsrooms functioned and that one had to develop a thick skin.
But it was not normal to me. And I say that because I had already experienced other newsrooms, [sic]” Ghosh said on X.
I think it is time to speak up.
I joined Newslaundry as a trainee journalist in 2016—I cannot recall the exact month—with a dream. I had just passed out of college and wanted to do the kind of independent journalism I believed in. At the time, I was working as a content writer… https://t.co/DPIQsiW8Lj
— Sayantan Ghosh (@sayantan_gh) August 9, 2026
Hannah Stephen, who identified herself as a Newslaundry subscriber, penned an open letter to Abhinandan Sekhri.
Titled “Letter to Mr Newslaundry-Apologist-Editor,” she reminded him about consent and, more importantly, “We pay you to keep the news free. But can you keep the news free from your boys’ club? We await answers.”
Independent journalist Pranav Pradhi wondered the number of articles Sekhri would have to take down “before he realises how deeply problematic some of his past writings has been.
“I genuinely don’t know how many articles Abhinandan Sekhri would have to take down, or how many times he would have to apologise, before he realises how deeply problematic some of his past writing has been. In the Tejpal case, he shared an article written by his sister along with commentary of his own, which was widely criticised for casting doubt on the survivor’s account. This is yet another piece he wrote in 2017, in the aftermath of the Mahmood Farooqui case.
What is particularly disturbing is his treatment of consent. He dismisses Journalist Faye D’Souza’s statement that anything happening after a clear “no” is rape as a “ridiculous overstatement” and even invokes the example of “happily married rapists and victims” raising children.
There is a world of difference between saying that every use of the word “no” automatically constitutes rape and saying that when someone clearly refuses a sexual act, that refusal must be respected. Instead of making that distinction, Sekhri spends much of the piece complicating the meaning of “no” and framing consent as a grey area,” he posted on X.
Though the former employees raised allegations of misogynistic comments and inappropriate workplace behaviour, it is not immediately known if any formal police complaints have been lodged.
I genuinely don’t know how many articles Abhinandan Sekhri would have to take down, or how many times he would have to apologise, before he realises how deeply problematic some of his past writing has been. In the Tejpal case, he shared an article written by his sister along with… pic.twitter.com/qdQXg64C9Y
— pranav pradhi (@pranavpradhi1) August 9, 2026
Incidentally, after Newslaundry‘s former employees called out the web portal, those who had worked with other organisations, too, spoke about their bitter experiences.
Angana Chakrabarti, who claimed to have worked with The Print, said the work culture there was “very, very toxic.”
“…these are editors with decades behind them. But work is extracted from us while we’re made to feel like parasites for wanting anything back. Respect at your workplace isn’t a big ask [sic],” she summarised her experience in a post on X.
This has taken me years to write. I'm supposed to be "grateful" for the opportunities @ThePrintIndia gave me. It was also so very, very toxic.
The whole newsroom has always been on tenterhooks, about what one man thinks.
Someone recently told me he's "banned" friendships in the…
— Angana Chakrabarti (@AnganaCk) August 10, 2026
