A job interview at Tech Mahindra turned into an interrogation of faith last week. Fazal Sheikh, a Noida-based candidate, alleges that a recruiter identified as "Suyash" mocked him after hearing his name, questioned his identity despite seeing his Aadhaar card, and told him "Muslims are frauds."
When Sheikh's friend Pranjal intervened by phone, the recruiter escalated—allegedly abusing both Pranjal and his mother with explicit language. Sheikh recorded the exchange and posted excerpts on X.
He then tried to file a police complaint at Noida Sector 135 police station. Officers told him it was a "small matter" and advised him to simply block the recruiter's number.
Tech Mahindra issued a statement on July 1 saying it was "reviewing the matter with urgency" and had "zero tolerance for discriminatory remarks or disrespectful conduct." The company said it was verifying facts and would take appropriate action. As of publication, no further update has been provided.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation on social media and reignited discussion about recruiter accountability in Indian tech hiring. Several users noted that Sheikh's case is part of a broader pattern: candidates from minority backgrounds facing discrimination that rarely results in consequences for the interviewer.