Women in Esports open up about Harassment in Shiva Nandy's Skyesports
Women allege harassment at Skyesports, sparking outrage in India's esports industry.
Women in Esports open up about Harassment in Shiva nandy's Skyesports
More often than not women in Esports don't talk about what they go through. From online abuse to working in cultures that promote the esports and gaming scene in the country. But ever so often, one account of one woman or two women is enough to shake the industry and on one Saturday afternoon of April 2025 such an account came forward from Mrinal Baranwal, also known as Jollies who told the world what allegedly happened to her when she was working with Skyesports for nine months.
In her X post that entailed the details of what she went through for nine months, she explained harassment, mismanagement and shunning of complaints by HR.
Women working with Skyesports open up about harassment in work place
Baranwal spoke about how she faced harrasment at the hands of Shiva Nandy, Vijay Krishnan, Sashank Bhandaru and Aishwarya Rajendran. She started her story by saying, “I joined Sky in February 2024 and was happy with my job as a project coordinator. The higher authority of Skyesports, namely Shiva and Vijay, were very friendly towards me. They used to take me along with a few other girls to beaches, clubs, and restaurants to ‘hang out’ and talk about how we’re adjusting in the office and what’s going on in projects.
“This is where the red flags started. No one in the office knew we were going out with them. And while being drunk, one guy named Sashank, told me that he doesn’t talk to me a lot because ‘Im a badminton player, and he very easily slips for badminton players.’ He’s married and has a child. I felt horribly awkward, as married men hitting on young girls is not something I have seen.”
This isn't the story of one person, after Baranwal, who more women have spoken up about the ordeal.
Truth behind why I quit @skyesportsintl in just 9 months.
— Mrinal Baranwal (@Jollies10_) April 19, 2025
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Document: https://t.co/n3kDLbaG6g
.@JetSynthesys @NavaniRajan
Why she took so long to speak up?
One questions that victims are often bombarded with this “What took you so long?” To this, talking to Aaryanshi Mohan of India Today Gaming, she said, “Whatever happened was very shameful and the HR of Rajan Navani’s Jeysynthesis still tried to sweep is under the rug is very infuriating. The only reason I took so much time to come out with it because I wanted to give the respective authorities the time to do what they had to do but they failed me and the entire women safety for which the HR department is there”
During her live stream, Mrinal said something that should across as a slap on everyone in this industry. She said, "I'll never work in games and Esports." Let these words haunt everyone for the rest of their lives.
She also added that she loved gaming and esports and called it a huge part of her life, but now, "this will be my last resort," she said.
As more voices join Baranwal in sharing their truths, it’s evident that the gaming and esports industry in India stands at a critical juncture. These allegations demand more than just online discourse—they require swift and transparent action. If real change is to be made, it must begin with accountability, not silence.
