LONDON: An NRI detective was victimised by his bosses when he was refused promotion in 2005 as he had earlier won a race discrimination case against them, an employment tribunal has found.

Detective Gurpal Virdi sued the Met in 2005 after being passed over for promotion.

Virdi was arrested in 1998 for sending racist hate mail to his colleagues. The Met's actions in that investigation led to the force paying out 2,40,000 pounds after being found to have racially discriminated against the detective. He later joined work.

"My career was over when they made an unlawful arrest in 1998. I haven't progressed for 15 years. I've been in that same rank for 15 years. If you challenge the organization you are a marked man," Virdi said.

The detective contrasted his treatment with that of white-officers involved in the investigation into claims that he had sent hate mail to colleagues.

"No one involved was disciplined. Some got promoted, yet I was the victim and didn't get promotion," he said.

Virdi said he would stay in the Met, where he works in the serious crime directorate, until he retires.

Expressing disappointment over the judgement, a spokesman of the Scotland Yard said it would provide Virdi with "appropriate support to meet his professional development as we do with all our staff."