A former senior manager of the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), Taqdir Bains, 31, has accused senior members of the CRE of being involved in "systematic race discrimination". He said the chairman, chief executive and other senior officers subjected him to "the most malicious and vindictive form of racial discrimination".
He named Gurbux Singh, the former chairman, Beverley Bernard, the deputy chairman and Daniel Silverstone, the chief executive, among six people who he alleged were guilty of victimisation and favouring Afro-Caribbean employees over Asians.
A solicitor from Adgbaston, Birmingham, Bains, is taking the CRE to an employment tribunal alleging race discrimination and wrongful dismissal after he was allegedly blocked for promotion, suspended and then sacked after raising issues of concern.
He has complained that relations with his seniors began to deteriorate after he complained to Maxine Ayton, the head of corporate affairs and two others that a Black employee had been promoted to be a senior executive officer without interview or job evaluation and had also been given a pay rise. But the promise for a similar pay rise to him was breached.
He has charged the three of ruining his career. Bains said that they did not want an Asian, particularly a Sikh, in the senior post, citing comments by Chris Boothman, the then senior legal director, that there was a "Sikh clique" in the Birmingham office.
He has charged the three of ruining his career. Bains said that they did not want an Asian, particularly a Sikh, in the senior post, citing comments by Chris Boothman, the then senior legal director, that there was a "Sikh clique" in the Birmingham office.