India, April 27 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court has quashed a sexual harassment FIR lodged against the director of a Gurugram-based company who allegedly used a profanity (f*** off) in an email exchange with a former female employee.

The high court order dated April 18 held that, though "undeniably uncouth and discourteous", the use of profanity did not constitute a sexually coloured remark under Section 354-A of the Indian Penal Code.

Through the order, the high court allowed the petition of the director of the Gurugram-based company, and quashed the FIR, along with all subsequent proceedings, including the challan.

However, the director, against whom the former female employee lodged an FIR, was ordered to deposit Rs.20,000 into...