This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.

The Viral Fever Says It Will Investigate Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Founder

"We'll get to the bottom of the issue."
File photo of Arunabh Kumar, founder of digital entertainment channel The Viral Fever (TVF).
Facebook/Arunabh Kumar
File photo of Arunabh Kumar, founder of digital entertainment channel The Viral Fever (TVF).

A day after an anonymous blogger alleged that she was sexually harassed by her 34-year-old boss Arunabh Kumar, the founder of digital entertainment channel The Viral Fever, the company announced that it would investigate the allegations.

"Let me clarify, that TVF has zero tolerance towards workplace harassment and an investigation will be conducted and appropriate actions will be taken," Nidhi Bisht, one of the core team members of TVF posted on Facebook. "We have a Prevention of Sexual Harassment committee, backed by Legal and HR which deals with such issues."

Following the anonymous blog, several women have come forward with allegations of misconduct and sexual harassment by Kumar.

"TVF has zero tolerance towards workplace harassment." Nidhi Bisht

Bisht has asked women to come forward "without fear and lodge a formal complaint". "Be rest assured, that due actions will be taken and we'll get to the bottom of the issue," she wrote on Facebook. Earlier, TVF had claimed that all allegations in the anonymous blog were "false, baseless and unverified". "We will leave no stone unturned to find the author of the article and bring them to severe justice for making such false allegations," they had said in an official statement earlier on Monday. The company was slammed on social media for rejecting the allegations without an investigation. Bisht said in her note that the initial response was shaped by their belief that the details described in the blog did not match any former employee.

Meanwhile, Kumar has said that the allegations against him are "fake".

"I unconditionally and unequivocally deny all these allegations," he told Mumbai Mirror. "Social media has already declared me an offender, but I am ready to address all the allegations against me. I am open to receiving a police complaint so that I can respond legally as well. TVF is bigger than me and if there is a remote chance that I have done any wrong, let me be persecuted."

No police complaint has been lodged yet in the matter.

Kumar began TVF in 2010 after MTV rejected his pitch for a show.

TVF has more than two million subscribers on their YouTube channel, and they received funding of $10 million from hedge fund Tiger Global last year.

Also On HuffPost:

Comedians' Relationship Quotes

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.