New Delhi: The matter related to Nidhi Mittal, wife of Lenskart founder Peyush Bansal, has become a buzzing topic on social media, blending elements of social media archive, corporate conduct and public opinion.
It began after some of Mittal’s previous tweets from 2013-2015 were seen on social media site X. Screenshots of these posts circulated showing her political stance.
(As Reported) These posts seemed to back the Aam Aadmi Party and to criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi… There were also references to political slogans such as “vote for muffler man”, which were related to Delhi elections at the time.
As these screenshots circulated rapidly, people had various reactions. Some expressed concerns over her statements, while others asked why her opinions from many years ago were being scrutinised. Within a short time of the controversy heating up, Mittal’s X account was unavailable, indicating it may have been suspended or deleted. This added to the speculation and made condition even worse for Nidhi…
Meanwhile Lenskart was also in the midst of another controversy a leaked 23-page employee dress code, dated February 2026, outlined rules and regulations. This document went viral because it reportedly banned certain visible religious symbols such as bindi, tilak and kalawa, but permitted the use of hijab and turban with certain conditions.
Reports also stated that employees audit scores might be impacted by not adhering to the dress code, the matter took a more serious turn. This brought into question employment equity and the link to how employees were being treated with respect to their individual or religious identity.
Lenskart quickly responded to the backlash. It edited the policy specifying that all religious and cultural items would be permitted. The documents included bindi, tilak, sindoor, mangalsutra, kada, hijab and turban. It also released a statement of apology, stating that any confusion or offence caused by the previous document was against the company’s principles.
Peyush Bansal also spoke about it. He first said the viral document was inaccurate, but later said that it was an outdated internal document. He said some of the rules listed in it, particularly those regarding religious symbols, should not have been. He also said that these points had been removed internally even before the controversy broke out.
The coincidence of both the events (Mittal’s old tweets and the Lenskart controversy) heightened the drama.
This initiated a big debate online with some wanting Quick action and the others in favour showing support.
Lenskart, a $5-6 billion valued eyewear brand and one of India’s largest in the sector, is now facing the PR challenge in this matter. It has gained significant traction in recent years, with a vast customer base and brand awareness, amplifying the impact of controversial issues.
