India’s eyewear big Lenskart has been on a robust progress trajectory, increasing shops and strengthening its model throughout the nation.

However this week, the corporate discovered itself on the middle of a cultural and social media storm over a office grooming coverage that many customers mentioned handled spiritual symbols unequally.

The controversy initially started after author Shefali Vaidya shared pictures on X (previously Twitter) that she mentioned have been from Lenskart’s inner worker type information.

“I’ve no approach of confirming this, however I checked with two diff AI platforms and so they assume these look like genuine and are from the Lenskart educational type information.”

So these pictures have been shared with me by somebody whom I belief. I’ve no approach of confirming this, however I checked with two diff AI platforms and so they assume these look like genuine and are from the Lenskart academy type information. I would really like somebody to dig deeper and verify if these… pic.twitter.com/NUgyblbb0K

— Shefali Vaidya. 🇮🇳 (@ShefVaidya) April 15, 2026

The doc, which is publicly out there on scribd, reveals that whereas hijabs and turbans have been permitted underneath sure situations, gadgets like “spiritual tikka/tilak and Bindi/Sticker” and kalawa threads have been listed as “not allowed.” The identical part mentioned that if worn, hijabs must be black and should not cowl the corporate brand.

Vaidya later claimed she had verified the doc, stating, “So I confirmed, that is real. That is what Peyush Bansal tells his staff, hijab is okay, however bindi/tilak/Kalawa is just not.”

She additionally tagged the corporate and its founder Peyush Bansal to hunt the clarification.

Hello @peyushbansal are you able to please make clear why hijab is okay however bindi/kalawa is just not at @Lenskart_comhttps://t.co/X35F6hoSHa

— Shefali Vaidya. 🇮🇳 (@ShefVaidya) April 15, 2026

The publish rapidly went viral. A number of customers referred to as for a boycott, sharing posts that alleged discrimination in opposition to Hindu staff.

“Hindu staff are being denied the precise to put on kumkum or bindi on their foreheads, whereas permitting the sporting of hijab,” a person wrote.

“If different faith can categorical their identification freely, Then why your compelled coverage cum mentality stoped  Hindu staff to not put on a Tilak or Bindi in company workplaces?” one other wrote.

“Good level. If Hijab, turban are identities, so are kalawa, bindi, mangalsutra. Forcing anybody to take away these is spiritual bigotry and discrimination. Want a PIL a authorized recognition of this stuff,” a 3rd expressed.

Whereas many individuals raised issues, some mentioned the doc may very well be outdated or misinterpreted.

Peyush Bansal responds

Because the controversy started to get large, CEO Peyush Bansal, who can be a Shark Tank India choose, responded publicly, stating the viral doc doesn’t replicate the corporate’s present insurance policies.

“I’ve been seeing an inaccurate coverage doc going viral about Lenskart. I need to communicate straight that this doc doesn’t replicate our current tips,” Bansal wrote in a post on X.

“Our coverage has no restrictions on any type of spiritual expression, together with bindi and tilak, and we proceed to evaluate our tips usually,” he added.

Hello, all. I’ve been seeing an inaccurate coverage doc going viral about Lenskart.

I need to communicate straight that this doc doesn’t replicate our current tips.

Our coverage has no restrictions on any type of spiritual expression, together with bindi and tilak, and we…

— Peyush Bansal (@peyushbansal) April 15, 2026

Bansal additionally acknowledged that the corporate’s grooming insurance policies have developed over time and mentioned older paperwork might now not be related.

“Outdated variations don’t characterize who we’re immediately. We apologize for the confusion and concern this case has brought on,” he mentioned.

“Now we have hundreds of crew members throughout Bharat who put on their religion and tradition proudly day by day at our shops. They’re Lenskart,” he mentioned.

“Lenskart was inbuilt Bharat, by Indians, for Indians. Each image and each custom our folks carry is part of who we’re as an organization. I’ll by no means let that be compromised,” Bansal added.