TCS Nashik case: All about sex harassment, conversion claims and Malaysia link

A complaint was registered with the Nashik City Police in February by a worker of a political party, who alleged that a Hindu woman working at the IT major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Nashik was observing Ramzan fast. This was the first tip-off, which made the police carry out a covert operation at the TCS office. The operation revealed that several team leaders of the company were involved in sexual harassment, rape and attempts to forcibly convert the religion of co-workers at the facility. Investigators say the probe, backed by WhatsApp chats, revealed that a Malaysia-linked preacher, Irman, was introduced to the victims through video calls.

The police crackdown that followed, and resulted in the arrest of seven individuals employed at the company, has now snowballed into a massive controversy. At least nine FIRs against sexual harassment and religious conversion have been lodged by the police.

While BJP leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar called it a case of "Corporate Jihad", N Chandrasekaran, the Chairman of Tata Sons has called the case "gravely concerning and anguishing" and said that a thorough investigation is underway. TCS issued a statement saying that it maintained a "zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion of any form" and that the employees under probe have been suspended.

Those arrested in the case include Asif Ansari, Shafi Shaikh, Shahrukh Qureshi, Raza Memon, and Tausif Attar. Another employee, Ashwin Chainani, has been arrested, reported news agency ANI. Meanwhile, HR manager Nida Khan, remains on the run as investigators scrutinise her hiring practices and role within the organisation, reported Divyesh Singh for India Today TV on April 14.

Most of the victims are women and are said to be in the age group of 18 to 25, earning between Rs 18,000 and Rs 25,000, reported The Indian Express newspaper, citing the police.

The police are scrutinising the bank accounts of the accused to check whether they had received funds for carrying out illegal activities, reported news agency PTI on Tuesday.

The police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under an ACP-level officer to probe the complaints lodged by eight female employees, who claimed that senior colleagues mentally and sexually harassed them, and the human resources department ignored their complaints.

COVERT OPERATION BY COPS THAT BUSTED SEX HARASSMENT, CONVERSION RACKET AT NASHIK TCS

Following the tip-off by the political party worker, the Nashik City Police started a covert operation in the TCS office in February.

According to The Indian Express newspaper, the political party worker noted that a Hindu woman in her early 20s was influenced to follow the teachings of Islam at her workplace. An investigating officer told the newspaper that the police contacted the family of the woman and found that they had stopped sending their daughter to the office after they noted that she started to observe fast during Ramzan and lived her life according to Islam.

Then, the police decide to probe the happenings in the TCS workplace.

Four undercover police personnel disguised themselves as housekeeping staff at the TCS office and observed the daily interactions among the employees, and reported what they saw and heard, back to their seniors.

According to an investigation officer, after two weeks of undercover operations, they felt that their probe had revealed enough to take action.

The first FIR was lodged by the police after investigations revealed that the woman, who had started keeping fasts, was in a relationship with the now-arrested accused, Danish Shaikh. He had hidden that he was already married.

The charges of hurting religious sentiments were also added as he influenced her to follow Islam.

"We registered the first FIR on charges of rape in the case of a woman who had observed fasts. She was in a relationship with a now-arrested accused, Danish Shaikh, who allegedly hid the fact that he was already married. In February, a month before the FIR, Danish's wife had messaged the woman and then told her on a call that he was married and had two children," the officer told the newspaper. "The rape case was registered since he had established sexual relations with the woman with the promise to marry her. Also, the section on hurting religious sentiments was added as he influenced her to follow his religion."

TEAM LEADS AT TCS NASHIK PUNISHED THOSE WHO DIDN'T PLAY ALONG?

The FIR against Danish triggered several FIRs across Maharashtra. More women employees at the TCS facility, aged between 18 and 25, came forward with allegations of sexual harassment and religious conversion attempts. The charges against the accused under Bharatiya Nayaya Sanhita (BNS) include sexual harassment, rape, stalking, and hurting religious sentiments.

Out of nine FIRs, seven had similar allegations, such as alleged personal comments about their marital lives, illicit touch, innuendos, and an increase in work assignments if they did not play along.

ACP (Crime) Sandeep Mitke, who is leading the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the case, said the probe began with the arrest of Danish and his associate Tousif Attar for allegedly seeking sexual favours from the woman. During a search of Tousif's phone, police reportedly found a photograph of a Hindu colleague dressed in Muslim attire.

Among the eight accused, six men and two women, seven have been arrested.

WHAT HAS TCS SAID ON THE NASHIK SEX HARASSMENT, CONVERSION CASE?

The company spokesperson said that the "TCS has a long-standing zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion of any form".

"We have always ensured the highest standards of safety and wellbeing of our employees at the workplace. As soon as we were made aware of the matter in Nashik, we took swift action. The employees being investigated have been suspended pending enquiry. We are cooperating with the local law enforcement authorities, and any further action will be based on the conclusion of this investigation," TCS said in a statement.

India Today Digital on Monday (April 13) had reached out to TCS seeking additional inputs and clarification on the allegations and the company's response.

Responding to India Today Digital's queries, Aarthi Subramanian, the Chief Operating Officer at TCS, who would lead an internal investigation into the case, said, "Appropriate and stringent action will be taken against those found guilty. Any necessary process improvements or corrective measures will be promptly implemented and strictly enforced".

SHOCKING, CASE OF CORPORATE JIHAD, SAY POLITICIANS

The cases registered by the police, the arrests and the grave allegations have sparked strong reactions from leaders of various political parties.

On April 10, BJP workers staged protests in Nashik, demanding strict action against those accused in the case involving employees of the IT company.

Telangana BJP leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar referred to it as the "Nashik corporate jihad case" and warned the Government of Telangana to ensure protection for lakhs of IT employees working in the state.

Ashutosh Dubey, the head of the Maharashtra BJP legal and advisory department, on X said that the TCS Nashik case was "shocking". He claimed that the "police suspected the number of victims could rise to around 50".

Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Priyanka Chaturvedi criticised TCS's response to the case. "Dear TCS. Your response to what has emerged in your Nashik BPO is not just inadequate but also casually dismissive. The deaf tone approach in your press note regarding women being sexually harassed and also charges of religious conversion over the years in a reputed BPO such as yours is a huge let down and disappointing," Chaturvedi posted on X.

Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Girish Mahajan called the incident in the "TCS company in Nashik, where many young girls work", "very unfortunate and shameful". "Regarding religious conversion, there are four to five Muslim company workers and some officers who lured the girls by promising them jobs and good salaries. They trapped them, converted their religion, made them offer namaz, keep roza, and fed them beef, the meat of our holy cow, forcefully," Mahajan told the news agency ANI.

The controversy has also triggered public outrage, with questions being raised about workplace safety, internal complaint mechanisms, and accountability in corporate set-ups.

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