Watch CBS News

IT CEO Accused Of Underpaying Housekeeper, Forcing Her To Sleep With Dogs

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO (CBSLA.com/AP) — The founder of an IT company has been accused of forcing a housekeeper to sleep in the garage with her dogs, work 15-hour days and sometimes go without food.

The U.S. Labor Department filed a complaint late last month against Himanshu Bhatia.

It alleges that Bhatia paid a woman from India, identified as Sheela Ningwal, $400 a month to do housework seven days a week at homes in San Juan Capistrano, Long Beach, Las Vegas and Miami.

Bhatia allegedly fired Ningwal after discovering she was researching labor laws on a computer.

Sabina Bhatia, Himanshu Bhatia's daughter, called the allegations a "complete fiction."

"For Sheela to say these completely false, awful and hurtful things to the U.S. Department of Labor, and use the government like this, is beyond words," Sabina Bhatia said in a statement. "People like Sheela should not be allowed to manipulate a system that was designed to help real victims."

Bhatia and her husband co-founded Rose International, which provides IT staffing and services. It has 6,000 employees nationwide.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.