Pune, 11 December 2025: A IT employee has launched a hunger strike outside his company’s office, alleging that he was illegally dismissed after taking medical leave for cancer treatment.
Santosh Patole, who worked with French multinational IT firm SLB (Schlumberger) for eight years, says he was removed from service for taking time off to undergo treatment for thyroid cancer.
Patole joined the company in 2017 as a Facility Manager. During a routine annual health check-up in April this year, doctors diagnosed him with throat cancer. He underwent treatment in June and continued medical care for the illness. After completing his approved medical leave, he returned to duty in July.
However, on July 27, he was terminated from his job. The company stated in its notice that Patole was dismissed due to alleged procedural violations in a financial transaction that caused losses to the firm.
Rejecting the accusation, Patole said he had no role in any such transaction. He pointed out that the company’s own performance records show that his work over the last three years was rated as excellent. “If my performance was consistently good, how could I suddenly be responsible for a financial loss?” he questioned.
Patole said the termination has caused severe damage to his mental health, physical recovery, career, and family life. Initially, he demanded reinstatement, but he now says the situation has worsened beyond repair. He is currently seeking financial compensation for the harm caused to him.
For the past three days, Patole has been sitting on a hunger strike outside the company office in Pune, demanding justice for what he describes as an unfair and illegal dismissal during one of the most difficult phases of his life.