BY BLOUIN ARTINFO | NOVEMBER 28, 2018
Sotheby’s India MD Gaurav Bhatia
(Courtesy: Sotheby’s)
Just a few days ahead of its highly-anticipated inaugural auction in India, Sotheby’s India has sent its Managing Director, Gaurav Bhatia, on leave pending an inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment made against him on social media.
Mumbai Mirror reports that four different anonymous complaints have been made on social media about Bhatia’s sexual misconduct.
According to the allegations posted on Instagram, Bhatia not only touched the alleged victims inappropriately, but also tried to kiss them forcibly, and even physically assaulting one of them in a hotel room in 2014. Out of the four complainants, two of them are male.
A statement by the auction house said Bhatia has taken a "leave of absence" pending a probe into the allegations.
"In light of recent anonymous allegations that have surfaced on social media, Gaurav Bhatia has agreed to take a leave of absence while a formal inquiry continues," the statement mentioned. "Harassment of any type has no place at Sotheby’s and we will thoroughly investigate these allegations with Gaurav’s full cooperation."
Bhatia began his career as an advertising executive in New York. He has worked with luxury brand LVMH for over a decade before joining Sotheby’s in 2016.
The auction house said in a statement that the inaugural auction “Boundless: India,” set to be held in Mumbai at The Taj Mahal Palace on November 29, will now be supervised under the leadership of Edward Gibbs, chairman, Middle East & India, and Yamini Mehta, International Head of Indian and South Asian Art.
Mumbai Mirror reports that four different anonymous complaints have been made on social media about Bhatia’s sexual misconduct.
According to the allegations posted on Instagram, Bhatia not only touched the alleged victims inappropriately, but also tried to kiss them forcibly, and even physically assaulting one of them in a hotel room in 2014. Out of the four complainants, two of them are male.
A statement by the auction house said Bhatia has taken a "leave of absence" pending a probe into the allegations.
"In light of recent anonymous allegations that have surfaced on social media, Gaurav Bhatia has agreed to take a leave of absence while a formal inquiry continues," the statement mentioned. "Harassment of any type has no place at Sotheby’s and we will thoroughly investigate these allegations with Gaurav’s full cooperation."
Bhatia began his career as an advertising executive in New York. He has worked with luxury brand LVMH for over a decade before joining Sotheby’s in 2016.
The auction house said in a statement that the inaugural auction “Boundless: India,” set to be held in Mumbai at The Taj Mahal Palace on November 29, will now be supervised under the leadership of Edward Gibbs, chairman, Middle East & India, and Yamini Mehta, International Head of Indian and South Asian Art.
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