Leftwing media outlet Newslaundry on Tuesday issued a detailed statement defending its internal mechanism for dealing with sexual harassment complaints, saying its Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) has received and acted upon four complaints since 2017.
The organisation said the cases resulted in action including termination, suspension and other disciplinary measures, while claiming that it is compliant with the Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (POSH) Act.
The statement comes amid growing scrutiny of Newslaundry’s workplace culture and its handling of sexual harassment complaints following allegations raised publicly by former employees. The controversy has now attracted the attention of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), which has begun examining allegations concerning the organisation’s workplace practices and POSH mechanism.
Our note. pic.twitter.com/cJ16jKlHfI
— newslaundry (@newslaundry) August 11, 2026
Newslaundry acknowledges four ICC complaints
In its statement, Newslaundry said it wanted to make it “clear” that it has an ICC specifically constituted to examine complaints of sexual harassment.
According to the organisation, the committee has dealt with four complaints since 2017. Newslaundry said these proceedings resulted in disciplinary consequences ranging from termination and suspension to other forms of action.
The admission is significant because it is the first time the organisation has publicly disclosed a figure for the number of sexual harassment complaints handled by its ICC. Newslaundry maintained that it “is and has been POSH compliant,” though the claim has not been independently verified.
The organisation also invited current and former associates to approach it with concerns, saying it encouraged “anyone associated with Newslaundry, including former employees” to write to the organisation.
At the same time, Newslaundry pushed back against allegations of workplace harassment after former employees shared their ordeal on social media. It said that while it had been engaging with feedback over the previous five days, it had observed what it called the “vile and slanderous” nature of conversations surrounding the organisation and several members of its staff.
It alleged that “unsubstantiated and fictitious allegations” were being made against its colleagues and said its decision not to respond to what it characterised as abuse and lies should not be interpreted as defensiveness.
Controversy began after scrutiny over an article defending Tarun Tejpal
The latest controversy has its roots partly in renewed scrutiny of Newslaundry’s handling of a 2014 article concerning former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal.
The article, written by Nirupama Sekhri, sister of Newslaundry co-founder Abhinandan Sekhri, was an open letter addressed to the woman who had accused Tejpal of sexual assault. Newslaundry recently removed the article after drawing flak in the wake of Tarun Tejpal’s conviction. It contended that it no longer reflected the values that guided its journalism. The decision to remove it triggered renewed questions about the organisation’s own approach to sexual harassment and workplace accountability.
The issue acquired fresh significance after the Bombay High Court overturned Tejpal’s 2021 acquittal in August 2026 and convicted him in the 2013 sexual assault case. The High Court sentenced him to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment, reversing the earlier trial-court verdict.
The court’s judgment also sharply criticised the earlier approach to the survivor’s testimony, rejecting stereotypical expectations about how a victim of sexual assault should behave.
Following the renewed attention to the old Newslaundry article, former employees and others began publicly raising questions about the media organisation’s internal culture and its POSH framework. Some former employees have alleged a toxic workplace environment and questioned how complaints were handled.
DCW begins examining allegations
The controversy moved beyond social media after the Delhi Commission for Women took cognisance of allegations concerning Newslaundry’s handling of workplace sexual harassment complaints.
DCW Chairperson Lata Gupta confirmed that the commission was examining the allegations and collecting relevant information before deciding on further action. At this stage, the exercise is a preliminary examination and does not amount to a finding that the allegations against Newslaundry have been established.
“We have never claimed to be perfect”
While defending its record, Newslaundry also sought to position itself as an organisation willing to acknowledge its shortcomings, even as it pushed back against allegations of workplace harassment it is facing. The platform said it had “never claimed to be perfect”, adding that it had “much to learn” and was trying to improve every day.
The statement also accused critics of making “unsubstantiated and fictitious allegations” and said the increasingly hostile conversations around the platform and its staff had become “vile and slanderous”.
