Kerala Employee Made Crawling Like A Dog For Missing Targets Has Sparked Outrage

A shocking video allegedly showing an employee of a private marketing firm in Kerala’s Kochi being forced to crawl on his knees with a leash around his neck for failing to meet sales targets has triggered widespread outrage and prompted official investigations.

The video, which surfaced online this week but was reportedly shot four months ago, shows a man crawling like a dog as another individual holds a leash tied to his neck. Another clip that surfaced shortly after allegedly shows workers being forced to strip as punishment.

The Kerala Labour Department has launched a probe into the matter. State Labour Minister V Sivankutty called the visuals “shocking and disturbing” and said such practices have no place in a civilised society. “I have ordered a probe into the incident and instructed the district labour officer to submit a report after carrying out a detailed investigation,” the minister told reporters.

The incident allegedly took place at a private marketing firm located in Kaloor, with the abuse reportedly happening in nearby Perumbavoor.

According to police, the videos were created by a former manager who had grievances with the company owner. Officials believe the footage was misleadingly recorded and later circulated to defame the firm. “The manager involved has since left the company, and we believe the videos were created as an act of revenge,” said a senior police officer.

Interestingly, the man seen in the video later came forward and stated that there was no workplace harassment involved. “I still work in the company. The video was forcefully taken by the former manager and does not reflect the work environment here,” he told the media. He reportedly repeated the same in his statement to the police and labour department officials.

Despite his clarification, several people, claiming to be current or former employees, alleged to local media outlets that such punishment tactics were common for those who failed to meet their sales targets.

The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has registered a case following a complaint by High Court lawyer Kulathoor Jaisingh. The Kerala State Youth Commission also initiated a suo motu case and directed the district police chief to submit a report.

Commission chairman M Shajar condemned the incident and said legal action must be taken against any practices that violate human dignity. “Such acts are unacceptable in a democratic society,” he stated.

As investigations continue, the incident has reignited concerns over toxic work culture and the need for stricter oversight of private firms, especially in the marketing sector where performance pressure is intense.

While the man at the center of the controversy has downplayed the allegations, the incident has spurred serious concerns among the public and authorities. The outcome of the multiple ongoing investigations will determine whether the video was an isolated act of sabotage or a glimpse into deeper workplace malpractice.