You have clearly not worked in any major company in India, Or even other nations (since PIP is a common process worldwide in most companies).
Any employee can escalate to the company Ombudsman if they feel they are being subjected to unfair treatment or inappropriate processes. It is the job of the Ombudsman to be neutral and do an thorough impartial investigation.
PIP (Performance Improvement Plan) is a formal process, it even HR and senior management (skip level 1 manager at the very least) are involved in it. There is specific time duration and set of expectations given formally (under review process with HR, so there is full transparency) to the employee to improve the performance.
A top performer cannot be nixed via PIP, because the onus of performance proofs is on the employee and those evidences are visible to HR and upper management.
PIP is used to nix bad performers, not top performers.
Typically, even if an employee clears PIP, they need to get an "Exceed Expectations" (or equivalent) appraisal rating in the next appraisal cycle in order to continue in the organisation, but if they get lower rating instead, they are in hit list to be nixed during next round of job cuts whenever it happens.
Top performers may quit due to office politics and lack of growth, but PIP is not their way out.
PIP is a permanent black mark on an employee's record (which is maintained historically), so it disallows the company from hiring that person again if that person exited due to PIP.
Top companies in India and elsewhere have very formal processes, including Ombudsman and PIP, which get audited.
You made the mistake of allowing PIP to be invoked on you for a fake reason given by your manager, and you made the even more serious mistake of getting fired because you "stole equipment".
If you were innocent of that dangerous charge, you should have fought hard against it, and ensured the top management, HR head and Ombudsman became involved in the investigation.
Being fired for theft or such serious crimes, can and will leave a permanent black mark on your employment record with the HR, and it may get pulled up during BGV (Background Verification) invoked by a prospective employer evaluating your candidacy for hire, thus seriously affecting your career and life.
I think you should now reach out to that company HR and clear the conspiracy and black mark against you. Perhaps, you can hire a lawyer who deals with employment matters, so he or she can legally get the matter resolved in your favour.
You have clearly not worked in any major company in India, Or even other nations (since PIP is a common process worldwide in most companies).
Any employee can escalate to the company Ombudsman if they feel they are being subjected to unfair treatment or inappropriate processes. It is the job of the Ombudsman to be neutral and do an thorough impartial investigation.
PIP (Performance Improvement Plan) is a formal process, it even HR and senior management (skip level 1 manager at the very least) are involved in it. There is specific time duration and set of expectations given formally (under review process with HR, so there is full transparency) to the employee to improve the performance.
A top performer cannot be nixed via PIP, because the onus of performance proofs is on the employee and those evidences are visible to HR and upper management.
PIP is used to nix bad performers, not top performers.
Typically, even if an employee clears PIP, they need to get an "Exceed Expectations" (or equivalent) appraisal rating in the next appraisal cycle in order to continue in the organisation, but if they get lower rating instead, they are in hit list to be nixed during next round of job cuts whenever it happens.
Top performers may quit due to office politics and lack of growth, but PIP is not their way out.
PIP is a permanent black mark on an employee's record (which is maintained historically), so it disallows the company from hiring that person again if that person exited due to PIP.
Top companies in India and elsewhere have very formal processes, including Ombudsman and PIP, which get audited.