Kolkata, Jan 30 (IANS): As retail chain Pantaloons' some employees alleged that they were suspended for singing the national anthem, the company, here on Thursday, termed the claim "unsubstantiated and mischievous".

Some employees at Camac Street showroom in South Kolkata of the Aditya Birla Group company had posted videos in the social media claiming they were punished for singing the national anthem.

"25 of the 150 employees were suspended for singing the national anthem and backing those against whom action was being taken. Since then, suspension letters are being slapped one after another," said an employee.

With posters reading "Pantaloon employees want justice from management", they have been holding sit-in over the past six days.

Rubbishing claims, the company said action was taken against them on disciplinary grounds. "Pantaloons would like to categorically deny the unsubstantiated and mischievous claim that some employees in Kolkata were suspended for playing the national anthem. These malicious insinuations are aimed to obfuscate facts," the company said.

According to the company, Pantaloons, a 20-year-old brand born in Kolkata, has 1,215 employees on its rolls in West Bengal. A few days ago, some employees were served suspension notice, pending enquiry, due to gross acts of indiscipline that are being investigated through a fair and impartial process.

"Disciplinary action was taken due to a variety of reasons, ranging from acts of violence in the presence of customers, disrupting store operations, threatening female employees and abusing co-workers," said a company spokesman.