US cleaning firm owner says he shuns Indian callers, faces probe

A North Carolina cleaning business owner, Robert Nolen, has sparked outrage after posting on X that he instructs his staff not to count Indian callers as potential leads. "They were Indian so we didn't count them as a lead," he wrote, adding that his team had also discussed changing prices to discourage Indian customers. In another post, he stated, "We don't want your business."

The Indian American Advocacy Council (IAAC) is now reviewing Nolen's public statements and seeking accounts from Indian customers, applicants, workers, and contractors who believe they faced discrimination. The IAAC said the statements could raise legal concerns if they reflect actual business practices. It also cited Charlotte rules that prohibit businesses from denying services or indicating customers are unwelcome based on national origin or ethnicity.