HYDERABAD: Begumpet police have registered a case against Hotel Manohar chairman Dontanselti Venkat Manohar, 76, for allegedly sexually harassing a woman employee at the hotel office. The woman lodged a complaint against Manohar and others on August 20.
A day earlier, on August 19, Hotel Manohar’s HR in-charge Rama Murthy V lodged a complaint against the woman, alleging that she had stolen `1 lakh from the chairman’s office.
According to the woman’s complaint, she joined the organisation in December 2023. She alleged that soon after joining, Manohar began making inappropriate and sexual remarks about her body. When she sought a salary increment, he allegedly asked her for sexual favours. She said she wanted to quit the job, but Manohar allegedly threatened to withhold her salary if she left without formally resigning, police said.
Citing financial commitments, including EMIs, she alleged that Manohar took advantage of her situation and attempted to sexually assault her. She also alleged that he would play obscene videos while she was working.
In connection with the theft complaint, the woman alleged that chairman DV Manohar, HR employee Rama Murthy and IT employee Prakash forcibly held her hand, tried to take away her laptop and shouted at her to leave the job. She questioned how she could have stolen money from the chairman’s office in their presence.
Based on her complaint, Begumpet police registered a case under Sections 74, 78, 79, 351(2) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and launched an investigation.
Meanwhile, in his complaint, Rama Murthy alleged that the woman had stolen `1 lakh from the chairman’s office bag. He further alleged that when she was questioned about the missing money, she made false and baseless allegations of sexual harassment against Manohar.
Based on his complaint, Begumpet police registered a separate case under Section 306 of the BNS.
Police are investigating both cases.
