This incident has now led to a federal lawsuit filed by Varshney, citing systemic discriminatory actions that resulted in his joblessness in October of the previous year
Anil Varshney, a 78-year-old Indian-American Senior Systems Engineer, found himself embroiled in a distressing situation after being fired from his long-time position with a missile defense contractor in Huntsville, Alabama. The termination was allegedly triggered by a video call he had with his dying brother-in-law, KC Gupta, in India, during which they conversed in Hindi. This incident has now led to a federal lawsuit filed by Varshney, citing systemic discriminatory actions that resulted in his joblessness in October of the previous year.
The heartbreaking event occurred on September 26, 2022, when Varshney received the solemn video call from his brother-in-law on his deathbed. Aware of the dire situation, Varshney took the call in an empty cubicle, ensuring no classified materials or work-related documents were present. The two spoke for only about two minutes before another worker interrupted and inquired about the video call. After confirming the call, Varshney hung up promptly, but tragically, that was the last conversation he had with Gupta before his passing.
The lawsuit claims that the co-worker who interrupted the call felt uneasy when confronted with a language he did not understand and subsequently made a false report, suggesting that Varshney breached security protocols by revealing confidential information during the call. Although there were no explicit policies against such calls, the defendants allegedly used this unsubstantiated report as grounds to terminate Varshney’s employment with immediate effect.
Despite the legal proceedings, Varshney remains hopeful for a just resolution that reinstates his reputation and career, enabling him to continue his meaningful work in supporting the development of integrated and layered missile defense systems that safeguard the United States and allied partner forces against ballistic missile threats
As a result, Varshney’s career and lifetime of service to the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the US government came to an abrupt end. Furthermore, he was allegedly blacklisted from future MDA work, causing further distress and despair.
In response to the lawsuit, Parsons Corporation, the employer company, denied any wrongdoing and contested the plaintiff’s entitlement to any relief. The legal battle is ongoing, with Varshney seeking reinstatement to a position similar to his former one, restoration of privileges, and the removal of any disciplinary records related to the incident. He is also seeking compensatory damages for mental anguish and emotional distress, in addition to punitive and liquidated damages, as well as coverage for attorney fees.
Anil Varshney immigrated to the United States in 1968 and became an American citizen, eventually settling in Huntsville. He received accolades during his career, including being recognized as “Contractor of the Year” in systems engineering and receiving a letter of recommendation from MDA for his contributions to saving USD 5 million on a ground-based missile defense program.
Despite the legal proceedings, Varshney remains hopeful for a just resolution that reinstates his reputation and career, enabling him to continue his meaningful work in supporting the development of integrated and layered missile defense systems that safeguard the United States and allied partner forces against ballistic missile threats.
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