A senior BBC executive producer has been suspended after an explicit image of male anatomy appeared on his Instagram page, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
Kamlesh Purohit, who previously oversaw the corporation’s Asian and black programming strategy, claimed his account had been ‘hacked’ after the lewd picture was posted last Friday.
The image, which showed a man’s genitals exposed with his face covered by a black bar, was seen by horrified colleagues before Purohit deleted it 20 minutes later.
The BBC launched a formal investigation after complaints were made to senior management, with colleagues told not to expect Purohit in work next week.
A well-placed source said: ‘Kamlesh has the BBC name on his social media accounts and there are strict guidelines about employees’ social media usage.
‘They are constantly told they must not bring the corporation into disrepute. While the image was up for a brief amount of time, it shocked and disgusted his colleagues, particularly women, and they formally alerted and complained to senior personnel.
‘It is being taken extremely seriously and an investigation at a senior level has been launched. He has been told not to come to work.’
The BBC states that breaches of its social media policy could result in termination of employment.
Kamlesh Purohit, a senior BBC executive, has been suspended after an explicit image of male anatomy appeared on his Instagram page
It is not the first time that Purohit has found himself in trouble over his online activity. In 2019, he raised eyebrows when he posted on Twitter, now X, that ‘virginity is like a balloon, one prick and it’s gone’.
He was reprimanded by bosses and told his social media activity could bring the corporation into disrepute. Purohit, who moved to the UK from Kenya, graduated with a degree in electronic engineering before joining the BBC in 1986.
He later became Head of Sport at the BBC Asian Network, presented shows on BBC Radio Leicester, and eventually rose to become the station’s editor.
In 2022 he was tasked with overseeing the BBC’s local radio community programmes.
He wrote on social media at the time of his appointment: ‘I’ve been asked to devise a strategy for BBC Local Radio’s community content, reshaping Asian and black programmes as part of the BBC’s Digital First strategy.
‘After two years managing BBC Radio Leicester, I will be leaving to carry out this important work with immediate effect.’
The source added: ‘His new role is a backwater that bosses give employees when they don’t know what else to do with them. Most people in the organisation are aware of this.’
A BBC spokesman said: ‘While we do not comment on individual matters, if anyone raises a complaint or concern with us, it will be treated with the utmost seriousness and we have robust processes in place to manage this.’
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