Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Former Polis Project Employees Allege Harassment and Toxic Workplace
Former workers of The Polis Project say they experienced an unfair and stressful workplace.
They claim three editors were dismissed after questioning how the organization was run.
Some former employees also described threatening messages, shouting, and hurtful treatment.
One worker said their mental-health condition was not properly accommodated.
Another former employee said they were pressured to apologize or risk losing their job.
The press release said 14 people had left or been pushed out in 18 months.
The organization is described as progressive and non-hierarchical, but former workers said its internal behavior did not match that image.
The article also criticizes the organization’s reporting and political views about Kashmir and India.
A press release alleged that The Polis Project dismissed three full-time editors after they raised concerns about governance, editorial independence, workplace conditions, and finances.
The affected editors were identified as Aritry Das, Kaashif Hajee, and Madhuri Sastry.
Former staff alleged threatening communication, public mockery, verbal outbursts, and inadequate accommodation for a worker’s mental-health condition.
The press release claimed that 14 staff members had been fired, ousted, or pressured to resign during the previous 18 months.
The article also repeated political criticisms of The Polis Project’s Kashmir-related reporting and its descriptions of events in India.
- Who
- Former employees and editors of The Polis Project made allegations about its founder, Suchitra Vijayan.
- What
- They alleged workplace harassment, toxic conduct, arbitrary dismissals, and disagreements over organizational governance and editorial independence.
- When
- The allegations were publicized on August 20, 2026; the press release referred to events during the preceding 18 months.
- Where
- The allegations concerned The Polis Project, described in the article as a New York-based project, with some events involving staff in Mumbai.
- Why
- Former staff said they were raising concerns about governance, editorial control, workplace conduct, accountability, and financial sustainability.
Former employees’ allegations
Organization’s stated identity
Workplace culture
Former employees’ allegations
Former employees described shouting, demeaning behavior, threatening communications, anxiety, and an unsafe work environment.
Organization’s stated identity
The article says The Polis Project presented itself as a progressive, non-hierarchical organization where people could share opinions; no direct response from Vijayan to the allegations was included.
Dismissals and accountability
Former employees’ allegations
The press release alleged that three editors were fired after raising concerns and that 14 staff members had left or been pushed out over 18 months.
Organization’s stated identity
The article reports that Vijayan attempted to dissolve the Board when questioned about accountability and transparency, but it does not provide her stated justification.
Editorial independence
Former employees’ allegations
The press release alleged that Vijayan increasingly controlled editorial content and interfered with full-time editors’ work.
Organization’s stated identity
The article provides no detailed response from Vijayan or The Polis Project addressing the editorial-control allegations.
- Organization
- The Polis Project, described in the article as a New York-based research and journalism project
- Founder
- Suchitra Vijayan
- Editors identified
- Aritry Das, Kaashif Hajee, and Madhuri Sastry
- Reported staff departures
- The press release alleged that 14 staff members were fired, ousted, or pressured to resign over 18 months
- Planned operations
- The press release said Vijayan announced that The Polis Project would remain operational for 14 more months
- Public disclosure
- The allegations were shared on X by journalist Riddhi Dastidar on August 20, 2026