Stared at my chest, asked me to visit cleric after miscarriage: TCS Nashik team lead

In a fresh development in the ongoing sexual harassment and alleged forced religious conversion case involving a TCS-linked BPO in Nashik, a sixth survivor, a senior employee who has been with the organisation for the past 11 years, has accused top management of failing to act on complaints and alleged that one of the accused made deeply insensitive remarks about her miscarriage, while another repeatedly stared at her inappropriately during meetings.

Recalling the incident, the survivor said that in February 2026, accused Tausif Attar approached her and asked about her health. When she informed him that she was unwell following a recent miscarriage, he allegedly made offensive and intrusive remarks, including suggesting that she visit a cleric in Ajmer for blessings related to childbirth.

“During a lunch break in February 2026, Tausif Attar, who works in the Dialer Team at our office, approached me and asked about my health. I told him I was unwell as I had recently suffered a miscarriage. I noticed he was staring at me in a strange manner,” the survivor recounted.

She further alleged that, aware she did not have children, he said, “I will give you the number of a Maulvi in Ajmer. I guarantee that if you go there and return, you will be blessed with a child; you should visit.”

She described the comments as deeply distressing, humiliating and inappropriate, given her recent medical trauma.

She further alleged that Attar repeatedly commented on her marital life and childlessness, which caused her significant mental anguish.

“I found his manner of speaking about my personal life deeply humiliating, so I did not respond. However, he repeatedly brought up the subject despite my clear discomfort,” she added.

The survivor also said that she personally knew the accused, Danish Shaikh, Tausif, Raza Memon, Shafi Shaikh, Shahrukh Qureshi and Asif Ansari, and had herself been subjected to alleged inappropriate behaviour by them.

She further alleged that the group operated collectively within the workplace and routinely targeted colleagues from other religious communities.

According to her complaint, the group made derogatory remarks about religious beliefs and idols, passed inappropriate comments and engaged in lewd behaviour, including staring at female employees in a sexually suggestive manner.

The survivor also claimed that despite multiple complaints over several years, no effective disciplinary action was taken. Instead, she alleged, the accused were merely transferred between departments, after which the harassment continued.

“Numerous female employees in our office have repeatedly lodged verbal complaints against Shafi Sheikh with the senior manager over the years,” she said.

Recalling earlier incidents dating back to 2022, she alleged that one of the accused, Shafi Shaikh, repeatedly stared at her inappropriately during meetings, which she described as humiliating and distressing.

“In 2022, while I was seated during an afternoon meeting, Shafi Shaikh was standing approximately three feet away from me. I realised he was staring fixedly at my chest and smiling in a manner I found inappropriate. Unable to tolerate his gaze, I got up and left the room,” the survivor recalled.

Based on her complaint, an FIR has been registered. This is part of a total of nine FIRs filed so far in connection with the case.

The survivor, who has been with the organisation for over 11 years and has worked as a team leader at the Nashik facility for the past seven years, said she currently supervises a team of 27 associates in the operations division.

Earlier reports had highlighted allegations from other employees that a group of seven to eight individuals repeatedly targeted staff through sexual harassment, inappropriate physical conduct, and remarks on religious beliefs and practices.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is probing nine cases linked to alleged exploitation, attempted forced conversion, hurting of religious sentiments, molestation, and mental harassment of female employees at TCS’s Nashik unit.

So far, eight employees, including a woman HR manager, have been arrested in connection with the case.

The allegations include sexual harassment, derogatory remarks about religious practices, coercion related to dietary and religious behaviour, and alleged pressure to conform to specific beliefs.

The case has triggered widespread concern, with complainants alleging that young women employees, many aged between 18 and 25, were particularly targeted.

TCS has stated that it follows a zero-tolerance policy against any form of harassment or coercion, and has suspended employees accused of sexual harassment at its Nashik office.

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