The case involving a BPO linked to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Nashik has unfolded rapidly over the past few weeks, with numerous complaints, arrests and parallel investigations. The investigation comes in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment, religious conversion and sexual relations under the false pretext of marriage.
The case first came to light after the Nashik police filed an FIR on the complaint of a 23-year-old BPO employee.
She accused her senior colleague Danish Sheikh of sexual harassment and having sexual relations under the false pretext of marriage. In her complaint, she alleged that he did not disclose that he was actually married, which misled her.
The woman also alleged that Danish and his colleague Tausif tried to convince her of the advantages of Islam over Hinduism. She also accused Nida Khan and Tauseef of making objectionable remarks about a Hindu god. According to the FIR dated March 26, obtained by HT, the complainant has not made any further allegation against Nida Khan.
From March 26 to April 3: Several FIRs were registered
After the initial complaint, more employees started coming forward.
Police registered nine FIRs between March 26 and April 3 — one at Deolali police station and eight at Mumbai Naka police station — based on complaints filed by nine junior employees.
Read also | TCS CEO K Krithivasan says Nida Khan is ‘neither an HR director nor a recruiter’
These complaints alleged sexual assault, harassment, and religious coercion within the workplace.
Early April: Workplace allegations expand
As the investigation progressed, police said the defendants, many of whom held positions such as team leadership, allegedly abused their power.
All seven accused have been named in several FIRs, Karnik said. One case was also registered against the Director of Operations and Human Resources for allegedly discouraging a complainant from filing a complaint about sexual harassment and hurting religious sentiments.
Police also revealed that one of the complaints filed by an employee related to alleged attempts at religious conversion in the workplace.
Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik said: “One employee alleged rape on the pretext of a job offer and marriage, while the remaining complaints relate to sexual harassment and hurting religious sentiments.”
He added that the police initially counseled the first complainant and later visited the office in plain clothes to encourage others to come forward.
April 13: Moftah’s arrest and court proceedings
The investigation saw a major development when the Director of Operations and Human Resources was arrested on April 13.
A Nashik court heard the matter and Additional Judicial Magistrate RC Narawdia remanded the accused for 14 days.
Mid-April: Arrests increase and one of the accused escapes
So far, seven of the eight defendants, six men and one woman, have been arrested. Another woman is still on the run.
Nashik Police on Thursday arrested two of the six men accused in two fresh cases of sexual harassment at the workplace. Both of them were already in judicial custody and have now been remanded in police custody, Assistant Public Prosecutor Aniket Awad said.
The case has been registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections, including Section 69 (sexual intercourse with false promise of marriage), 75 (sexual harassment), 299 (insult to religion or religious belief), and 3(5) (constructive or joint liability).
April 16: Central agencies intervene
As the scope of the case expanded, the Nashik city police reached out to central agencies. On April 16, the police shared details of the case with the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the government’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), and intelligence agencies. They requested assistance in investigating the defendants’ possible links with extremist organizations and any foreign financing.
Police Commissioner Karnik said that a special investigation team is probing the role of all the eight accused, who are senior employees of the post office.
Claims about Nida Khan are disputed
Amid intense scrutiny, allegations about one of the accused, Nida Khan, have also come into question. Her family told Hindustan Times that the 26-year-old is currently in Mumbai and is expecting her first child.
They also refuted claims that she was part of the HR team.
According to them, Khan is a telecaller in the sales team who joined the BPO in December 2021 and is not among the senior staff. “She was never connected to the HR team,” they said, adding that multiple levels of senior staff existed above her.
April 17: TCS orders an investigation, denies receiving complaints
Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran announced a high-level investigation, and TCS issued a statement on Friday addressing the allegations.
“While detailed reviews are still ongoing, an initial review of systems and records from the Nashik unit indicates that we have not received any complaints of the kind alleged on our ethics or POSH channels,” said K Rithivasan, CEO and MD, TCS.
The company also clarified Neda Khan’s role, saying that she was “neither an HR manager nor a recruiting officer. She worked as an operations assistant and did not have any leadership responsibilities.”
TCS added that it has engaged external experts, including Deloitte and law firm Trilegal, as independent counsel for the internal investigation led by Aarthi Subramanian, president and chief operating officer.
