A Bengaluru entrepreneur has sparked an online debate after announcing that his company would not hire male candidates from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. Karthik SG, also known as Karthik Shenoy, founder of A1 Sports World, announced the policy in a post on X on September 22, 2026. Key HighlightsThe Bengaluru Entrepreneur Hiring Policy applies to male candidates from four states.Shenoy said the decision followed an internal discussion after an incident involving a former employee.He cited concerns about the safety of female employees and children associated with the company.The announcement has triggered a wider workplace fairness debate over recruitment based on state and gender.What Did the Entrepreneur Announce?In his X post, Shenoy said the company had reached the decision after what he described as a lengthy discussion and disagreement. He specifically named Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.He also mentioned that a woman from Rajasthan was already working at the company and said she supported the decision. The announcement quickly attracted attention because it combined gender and state of origin as hiring criteria. Why Did the Company Take This Decision?Shenoy later gave an explanation for the Bengaluru hiring policy controversy. According to reports quoting his posts, he said a former male employee from one of the four states had been dismissed after warnings over alleged abusive behaviour towards female employees.He further alleged that the former employee had attempted to force himself on a female colleague. These allegations have not been independently verified, and the reports reviewed did not establish details of any related legal proceedings.Shenoy said his company works with young children and that employee and child safety was an important concern behind the decision.Related Instagram Post :Bengaluru Entrepreneur’s Hiring PolicyWhy Has the Policy Sparked Debate?The regional bias in recruitment question has become the central issue in the online discussion. Several users questioned whether the alleged conduct of one employee should lead to a hiring restriction covering men from four entire states. Others discussed the importance of workplace safety and stronger checks during recruitment.The discussion has therefore expanded beyond the company itself to issues involving workplace fairness, individual accountability and recruitment practices.What Happens Next?The policy has been publicly stated by Shenoy, but independent reports reviewed do not establish how broadly it has been implemented across all recruitment processes.For now, the Bengaluru recruitment controversy continues to generate discussion about how employers can address workplace safety concerns while making hiring decisions about individual candidates. The allegations concerning the former employee remain allegations unless independently established through further evidence or legal proceedingsAlso Read : Skills Over Degrees Reshape Hiring Trends in the Indian Job Market
