April 5, 2025: A private marketing firm in Kerala has been embroiled in a controversy over alleged extreme workplace harassment. The firm’s employees claim they were subjected to degrading punishments, including being forced to crawl on their knees like dogs and lick coins from the floor.

Disturbing visuals from the workplace, aired on local TV channels, prompted Kerala’s Labour minister, V Sivankutty, to order a probe into the allegations. The visuals reportedly showed a person using a leash to force an employee to crawl on his knees like a dog.

Employees told local TV channels that they were subjected to degrading punishments by the firm’s management when they failed to meet targets. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for strict action against the firm.

The State Human Rights Commission has registered a case, and the Kerala State Youth Commission has also intervened, directing the district police chief to submit a report and take strict legal action against the firm.