Kochi: A former employee has filed a complaint against a private marketing company based in Kochi, Kerala, accusing it of subjecting staff to bizarre and degrading punishments for not meeting sales targets.

According to the complaint, which was registered in September 2024 at the Perumbavoor police station, employees who failed to meet performance goals were allegedly forced to walk like dogs with belts around their necks, eat and drink from the floor in a similar manner, and in some instances, had salt forced into their mouths. It is also claimed that some employees were compelled to remove their trousers as part of the so-called punishment.

The complainant, a fromer employee also alleged that the company misleads job seekers with promises of high salaries and benefits, only to impose exploitative working conditions. Reports also claim that employees’ mobile phones were seized, with minimal contact allowed with their families.

The company reportedly deals in household products and operates as a direct marketing firm.

Despite the seriousness of the accusations and videos allegedly circulating on social media, no official statement has yet been issued by the company or local authorities. The complainant claimed that police did not take the matter seriously and dismissed the experience as a "life lesson", only registering a basic complaint.

Kerala Minister V Sivankutty has since stated that the Ernakulam labour officer has been tasked with investigating the matter. He confirmed that further action, including possible arrests, will follow once preliminary inquiries are complete.

As of now, the allegations remain under investigation, and no arrests have been made. The incident has triggered public outrage on social media and reignited concerns over unregulated labour practices in India’s private sector.