Radio presenter who says she was suspended for her Indian accent loses racial discrimination claim after boss says she was fired for being ‘gloomy’

A radio presenter who claimed she was the victim of racism after being replaced because of her Indian accent has lost her discrimination case after bosses said she was fired for being “gloomy”.

Soma Sarkar told a tribunal she was the victim of racial discrimination when Lyca Radio executives dropped her from a daily show she had presented for two years.

But the chief executive of Lyca Radio, which broadcasts music for British Asians in London, said the decision to appoint a new presenter who speaks with an English accent was because Ms Sarkar’s performance was considered “dismal”.

Three other presenters were sacked as part of a shake-up to bring in new radio presenters and give the station ‘more energy and a higher public profile’.

Ms Sarkar has rejected a £10,000 settlement offer from Lyca Radio to take the broadcaster before an employment tribunal, it was heard.

Now her case has been dismissed by the East London Employment Tribunal.

The hearing was told that Ms Sarkar worked for Lyca Radio between February 1, 2019 and June 3, 2021.

The presenters on the channel are all “of British Indian, British Pakistani, Indian or Pakistani descent”, it was heard.

Ms Sarkar hosted a show on weekdays between 7pm and 10pm.

In early January 2021, Lyca Media II Ltd appointed a new CEO who reviewed the company.

Raj Baddhan told Ms Sarkar that she was temporarily removed from her show on February 5, 2021, but this ended up being the date of her last show.

Mr Baddhan’s strategy was to bring in new people with “more energy and a higher public profile” than current presenters, it was heard.

Ms Sarkar was replaced by a presenter known professionally as Radio Walli.

The tribunal was told: ‘(Ms Sarkar) identified herself as of Indian origin and said she speaks with an Indian accent.

‘She said that she was replaced on her radio program by a presenter with an English accent.’

However, in March 2021, Ms Sarkar denied claiming her dismissal was due to racism and leveled accusations of nepotism, claiming the CEO was related to the new presenter.

She said: ‘I have always maintained that the termination was on grounds that were not strictly performance based as it is clear that the

The host who replaced me used to do radio shows on very late nights or late weekends, but certainly not on prime nights like me.

“This act of ignoring an established radio host for two years for a person not in the same position can only happen if the new person is somehow related to the CEO, regardless of the race or ethnicity of the person in issue*

‘It can indeed be understood as a clear case of discrimination based on an attempt to take care of what is one’s own and known.’

Ms Sarkar rejected an offer of £5,000 and then an improved offer of £10,000 to settle the dispute, it was heard.

Ms Sarkar still has a claim for racial discrimination and unfair dismissal before the tribunal.

Judge Stephen Shore ruled that Ms Sarkar was unreasonable to continue pursuing her claim after receiving the initial settlement offer.

He said: ‘The value of (Ms Sarkar’s) claim did not come close to the amount stated in (Ms Sarkar’s claims list).

‘£5,000 and £10,000 were both reasonable offers.

“In all the circumstances, we have determined that (Ms. Sarkar’s) conduct was unreasonable in pursuing her claims following the (station’s) email dated April 29, 2024.”

The tribunal said it had no jurisdiction to hear her complaint of racial discrimination as she was not technically an employee but a freelancer.

Ms Sarkar lost claims for unfair dismissal, failure to pay notice and holiday pay, and direct and indirect racial discrimination.

Lyca Radio was recently named Radio Station of the Year at the 2023 Asian Media Awards following the acquisition of Asian Sound Radio in Greater Manchester.

It also earned nominations in three other categories, including Best Radio Show and Radio Host of the Year.