£230k for Hindu Mail boss ‘taken for Muslim’

A HINDU postal manager has been awarded nearly £ 230,000 i n compensation after a colleague mistook him for a Muslim in an argument over a prayer room.

Mathan Shunmugaraja was discriminated against by a Christian member of staff at Royal Mail’s Cardiff centre after using a ‘quiet room’ to hold meetings.

Mr Shunmugaraja, who described himself as a Hindu of British-Indian origin, said Adam Day aggressively suggested they use the ‘Muslim prayer room’ instead. An employment tribunal found the remark amounted to religious discrimination.

The Cardiff tribunal heard Mr Day used the room for praying and was angry it was being used for work. In August 2017, Mr Day

‘Caustically and aggressively’

complained to another manager and asked Mr Shunmugaraja not to use the room in future.

When the weekly meeting went ahead in the quiet room, Mr Day stormed in and demanded Mr Shunmugaraja discuss it outside. When Mr Shunmugaraja asked another colleague – who was a Muslim – to come with them, Mr Day said: ‘ What for? I’m not going to kill you.’

He claimed that Mr Day then ‘caustically and aggressively’ said: ‘ Let’s go use the Muslim prayer room.’ Mr Day denied using the word ‘Muslim’.

In a separate i ncident, Mr Shunmugaraja was called a ‘sly dog’ by another colleague.

He wrote to HR and claimed he was being harassed and bullied on account of his race. He later went on sick leave and did not return prior to his dismissal, for an unrelated matter.

Royal Mail was told to pay £229,161 for injury to feelings and past and future losses.