NEW DELHI: Lenskart co-founder and CEO Peyush Bansal has issued a formal apology and dismissed allegations of religious discrimination within the company. Addressing the controversy surrounding a “Grooming Guide” that went viral on social media, Bansal clarified that the company does not prohibit employees from wearing bindis, tilaks, or kalawas. He termed the document circulating online as “inaccurate.”
The row erupted after a style guide purportedly issued by Lenskart began trending on April 15. The document stated that store employees were barred from wearing decorative stickers (bindis), religious marks (tilak), or sacred threads (kalawa). However, the same guide allegedly permitted black hijabs for Muslim women and black turbans for Sikh men. This led to a wave of criticism on social media platforms, with users accusing the eyewear giant of discriminating against Hindu traditions.
Responding to the backlash on X (formerly Twitter), Bansal stated that the viral document does not reflect the company’s current guidelines and is “outdated.” He assured that staff members have full liberty to wear bindis or tilaks. “Every symbol and every tradition our people carry is a part of who we are as a company. I will never let that be compromised,” Bansal posted, adding an apology for the confusion and concern caused by the situation.
In a follow-up statement, Bansal revealed that the controversial document was an old internal training manual and not an official HR policy. He admitted it contained an “incorrect line” regarding religious marks that should never have been included. He further explained that the error was identified and corrected as early as February 17, well before it became a public controversy. Taking full responsibility for the lapse, Bansal reiterated that Lenskart respects all forms of religious expression and will never impose restrictions on them.
With input from ThePrint & IN
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