Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Bengaluru CEO Faces Backlash Over Regional Hiring Ban
A company leader in Bengaluru said his company would stop hiring men from four Indian states.
He said the decision came after an argument inside the company.
He connected it to allegations about a former employee’s behavior toward female workers.
The former employee was accused of acting abusively and trying to force himself on a colleague.
These allegations have not been independently confirmed.
The company works with young children, so the leader said safety was especially important.
Many people online criticized the rule because it judges applicants by gender and state.
They said companies should examine each person’s conduct and qualifications instead.
Karthik Shenoy, founder and CEO of A1 Sports World, announced the company would not hire male candidates from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh.
Shenoy made the announcement on X on September 22, citing lengthy internal discussions and disagreement within the company.
He later linked the policy to allegations that a former MBA-qualified employee behaved abusively toward female colleagues and attempted to force himself on one colleague.
Shenoy said the company works with young children, making employee and child safety a major concern.
Critics argued that applicants should be assessed individually and questioned whether one alleged incident justified excluding men from four states.
- Who
- Karthik Shenoy, founder and CEO of A1 Sports World, and the company’s prospective male applicants from four states.
- What
- Shenoy announced that A1 Sports World would not hire male candidates from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh.
- When
- The announcement was made on September 22; the year was not specified in the article.
- Where
- The company is based in Bengaluru, and the announcement was made on X.
- Why
- Shenoy linked the decision to allegations involving a former employee and cited the safety of employees and children connected with the company’s programs.
Safety and Employer Responsibility
Fair Hiring and Individual Assessment
Whether the policy protects people
Safety and Employer Responsibility
Shenoy said the company must protect its employees and the young children involved in its programs, and linked the policy to alleged misconduct by a former employee.
Fair Hiring and Individual Assessment
Critics said a blanket restriction based on gender and state of origin does not establish that applicants are unsafe and may unfairly exclude qualified candidates.
How employers should respond to misconduct
Safety and Employer Responsibility
The company’s stated position was that the alleged incident justified stronger precautions in recruitment.
Fair Hiring and Individual Assessment
Critics argued that candidates should be evaluated individually rather than judged by regional background or gender.
- Company
- A1 Sports World
- Founder and CEO
- Karthik Shenoy, also known as Karthik SG
- Announced restriction
- No hiring of male candidates from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh
- Announcement date
- September 22; the year was not specified
- Stated concern
- Workplace and child safety
- Alleged trigger
- A former employee was accused of abusive behavior toward female colleagues and attempting to force himself on one colleague
- Verification status
- The allegations against the former employee have not been independently verified