An employee in an IT company in A Nashik from Maharashtra was allegedly discouraged from filing a complaint of sexual harassment and attempting religious conversion.
“These things happen,” news agency PTI reported, citing police.
The controversy is linked to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and has escalated into a major criminal investigation.
9 FIRs have been registered
Nashik police have registered nine separate cases involving a suspected “organised gang” operating within the Nashik branch.
Seven male employees appear in multiple complaints, according to Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik. Cases include allegations Sexual harassment, attempted religious conversion, and religious harassment in the workplace.
Police said the seven men worked together like an “organized gang” to target female employees.
8 detainees so far
So far, eight TCS employees, including seven men and the director of operations, have been arrested, news agency PTI reported.
Another employee named in the investigation is on the run. court in Nashik has remanded the arrested COO in judicial custody till April 28.
Complaints from 8 women
Police said complaints were filed by eight female employees, while one case was filed by an employee alleging religious harassment and attempted conversion.
Investigators said the defendants held positions such as team leaders and may have abused their roles.
SIT was formed
A special investigation team was formed to investigate the case. The first complainant was hesitant at first, but more employees came forward after police reached out and counseled them, officials said.
A woman DCP and other female officers visited the office as part of the investigation.
Regarding reports indicating possible links to extremist groups or foreign funding, Karnik said the investigation is ongoing and agencies such as the State Intelligence Directorate, Anti-Terrorism Squad and National Investigation Agency have been contacted.
“When we get some evidence, we will be able to come to a conclusion about the same,” he told PTI.
What TCS said
Chairman of Tata Group N Chandrasekaran said the allegations were “deeply disturbing and disturbing” and that an internal investigation was being conducted under TCS’s Chief Operating Officer, Arathi Subramanian.
TCS has suspended the accused employees and said it follows a zero-tolerance policy.
