A woman manager’s invitation to a co-worker’s birthday party in Udaipur, Rajasthan, ended in alleged gangrape by her CEO and two colleagues, police say. Three arrests followed swift action amid outrage over workplace betrayal.
What began as a casual invitation to a co-worker’s birthday party turned into a nightmare for a 32-year-old woman manager in Udaipur, Rajasthan. Police arrested the CEO of her private IT firm and two junior employees for allegedly gangraping her last Saturday after the event at the CEO’s residence.
The victim, who works in the same company, filed an FIR on Tuesday; medical evidence confirmed the assault. Udaipur Superintendent of Police Alok Thakur confirmed the arrests on Wednesday, stating no prior complaints existed.
Investigations proceed under IPC sections for gangrape and conspiracy, with all accused in custody. Colleagues express shock, while women’s rights groups demand corporate accountability.
Invitation to Horror: The Night Unravels
The party kicked off around 8 pm last Saturday at the CEO’s upscale home in Udaipur’s posh sector, attended by about 15 company staffers. Alcohol flowed freely, and the mood stayed jovial until late, police recounted from witness statements.
As guests departed, the CEO-identified as 42-year-old Vikram Singh-allegedly coaxed the victim into a private room under the pretext of discussing work. There, he and two juniors, aged 28 and 30, assaulted her repeatedly over two hours, the FIR details.
The victim, a manager handling client relations for three years, escaped around midnight and confided in a family member before lodging her complaint. A medical exam at Udaipur’s government hospital revealed injuries consistent with forcible assault, including internal trauma.
SP Alok Thakur told reporters, “We received the FIR at 11 am Tuesday and arrested all three by evening after recovering digital evidence like WhatsApp chats from the CEO’s phone. The victim is stable and under counselling.” Her statement humanises the terror: “I trusted them as colleagues; this shattered everything.”
Swift Arrests and Shocked Workplace Fallout
Police raids on the CEO’s home and the accused’s flats yielded mobile phones with deleted messages hinting at prior coercion attempts, sources said. The two juniors, both software developers, had no criminal history, but the CEO faced a past harassment probe in 2023, quickly shelved internally.
Company peers, speaking anonymously, described the event as routine: “It was cake, music, and team bonding-until this nightmare surfaced.” The IT firm, employing 80 people, suspended operations briefly; its HR head issued a statement pledging full cooperation.
By Thursday, protests erupted outside the office, with local women’s groups like SEWA Rajasthan demanding CCTV footage review. Nationally, #WorkplaceSafety trended on social media, linking to similar cases like the 2024 Bengaluru techie assault.
Rajasthan’s Shadow of Vulnerability: Broader Context
This incident spotlights Rajasthan’s alarming gender violence trends. State data from the National Crime Records Bureau (2024) logs over 3,200 rape cases, a 12% rise from 2023, with 40% tied to known perpetrators like colleagues or acquaintances.
Udaipur alone reported 150 such FIRs last year, often post-festive gatherings. Experts link it to lax enforcement of the 2013 Sexual Harassment Act (POSH), where only 25% of firms in Rajasthan have functional internal committees, per a 2025 FICCI survey.
The case echoes the 2022 Jaipur hotel scandal involving executives and a 2024 Kota coaching centre assault, fuelling calls for mandatory workplace audits.
Government initiatives like Rajasthan’s Shakti Vahini helpline logged 5,000 calls in 2025, yet conviction rates hover at 28%. SP Thakur added, “We’re invoking POCSO if minors are involved elsewhere, but here it’s clear adult betrayal. FIRs alone aren’t enough; societal mindset shifts are key.”
Company Under Scrutiny: Leadership Failures Exposed
The IT firm’s board met urgently, appointing an external probe while the CEO remains suspended without pay. Employee testimonials reveal a “boys’ club” culture: late-night “team drinks” normalised, with few women in senior roles.
One former staffer said, “Warnings about the CEO’s behaviour were ignored.” Labour Ministry officials now eye POSH compliance violations, potentially fining the firm up to ₹50 lakh.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This grotesque abuse of authority demands workplaces become sanctuaries of trust, not traps of exploitation. At
The Logical Indian, we champion empathy, dialogue, and harmony-urging firms to enforce zero-tolerance policies, mandatory training, and open reporting channels for true coexistence. Leaders must model respect to spark change.
