Games

Skyesports under severe scrutiny as ex-employee alleges sexual misconduct; CEO responds

BBG News

On a concerning note, on April 19, 2025, Mrinal Baranwal, who had previously been employed at Skyesports owned by JetSynthesys, came forth with grave accusations of sexual misconduct against the company’s upper management, implicating no less than three individuals.

The assertions were specifically made towards Shiva Nandy, our Founder and CEO, Vijay Krishnan, who leads our Esports department, and Sashank Bhandaru, in charge of our Global Business Partnerships.

From where it all began – The trip to Mumbai and the Dussehra Puja

On Saturday, Mrinal Baranwal, a former Project Coordinator at Skyesports, shared on platform X her reasons for leaving the company only nine months into her tenure which started in February 2024. Mrinal’s initial excitement about her position and the prospects it held with Skyesports had been dampened over time.

Nevertheless, she found herself facing strange behavior from higher-ups in the company. She details incidents where she was invited to casual events supposedly for team building, but instead faced unwelcome advances.

Last year on April 17th, before our trip to Mumbai with Shiva to meet clients, Vijay advised me on what to pack. Instead of formal attire or casual t-shirts and jeans, he suggested not to bring loose clothing – if you catch my drift.

Truth behind why I quit @skyesportsintl in just 9 months.
.
Document:
.@JetSynthesys @NavaniRajan

— Mrinal Baranwal (@Jollies10_) April 19, 2025

During the same business trip, it’s claimed that CEO Shiva Nandy pressured her into having drinks in her hotel room and subsequently showed displeasure when she upheld professional standards.

She narrates, “Shiva offered us drinks and attempted to start a conversation, to which I responded briefly. I managed to make one drink last for more than an hour and a half, and he eventually left. Later, Vijay called, informing me that Shiva was upset because I hadn’t drunk or opened up with him. I expressed my confusion about what he wanted from me, but it seemed fruitless.”

Mrinal wrote, “According to Vijay, Shiva was displeased that I didn’t drink and share more personal information with him. I admitted I didn’t know what he expected of me, but it turned out to be pointless.

Mrinal revealed that the incident which tipped her over the edge occurred during the Dussehra Puja at work, when she discovered Vijay had secretly taken a photo of her from behind without her consent. In her words, “I had reached my limit. I was exhausted. I was terrified. I couldn’t endure it any longer. I handed in my resignation the following week.

Even though she repeatedly brought up her issues with Skyesports’ human resources, Mrinal claims that her grievances were disregarded. Over a span of several months, all she received in response was an invitation to a seminar on workplace etiquette, which the trio declined to attend. This series of events ultimately prompted her resignation in December 2024.

— Alexaa (@NotyourAlexaa) April 19, 2025

Alexa, another ex-employee recounted her story by stating, “I parted ways with Skyesports last year due to a similar occurrence. At a gathering in Bangalore, Vijay made me uncomfortable by being overly tactile, even going as far as grabbing my hand. Subsequently, I was pressured to either relocate to Chennai or resign, so I chose to depart.

Skyesports CEO responds to the sexual misconduct allegations: “the last 48 hours have been tough”

20th of April saw Skyesports CEO, Shiva Nandy, address sexual misconduct accusations from a former employee. He termed the past 48 hours as “difficult and memorable,” while asserting that the claims were “baseless.

He refuted the allegations put forth by Mrinal, as well as Ananya Sadhak and Alexa, two other former employees. Moreover, he clarified that his initial reticence stemmed from the need to carefully consider the circumstances and adhere to the internal HR protocols before addressing the matter publicly.

Here is my responsible response to the allegations against @skyesportsintl and the team.

— Shiva Nandy (@shivanandysky) April 20, 2025

Nandy firmly rejected every allegation made against him. Regarding the charge of sharing an inappropriate room, he clarified that it stemmed from a miscommunication caused by last-minute hotel adjustments.

Concerning the reported incident of inappropriate touching on the beach, Nandy explained that his actions towards Mrinal were merely an attempt at comforting her following her removal from a project. He characterized his behavior as showing “brotherly concern.” However, he acknowledged and stressed that he took her subsequent discomfort seriously by maintaining a more professional distance thereafter.

Additionally, Shiva noted that the emergence of these accusations occurred concurrently with Mrinal’s work-related struggles, such as an elongated probation phase and a rejected salary increase. However, it appears the Dussehra photograph incident, which Mrinal brought up in Nandy’s reply, remains unaddressed.

It’s the need of the hour to put a stop to experiences like these

Indeed, it’s essential to acknowledge both perspectives, but on a more intimate level, her narrative left me feeling distressed. It’s profoundly disconcerting to learn that three men, in a profession dedicated to fostering secure environments for women in gaming, could engage in such behavior towards their female colleague.

I’ve been truly moved by her story, serving as a stark wake-up call that we must strive for change. It underscores the significance of corporations, not just in the gaming industry, to delve deeply into their treatment of people and take concrete actions towards establishing work environments that are secure and respectful.

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2025-04-21 11:11

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