TCS Nashik staff allege harassment, sexual misconduct and forced religious conversion, SIT probes HR collusion, nine cases filed, chairman orders strict internal inquiry
Exploitation and forced religious conversion at TCS in Nashik, Maharashtra (Video screengrab/IANS)
A male employee at Tata Consultancy Services’ (TCS) Nashik branch has alleged that one of the accused made a deeply personal remark suggesting he should “send his wife” to him if he wanted a child, as she couldn’t conceive even after a medical treatment.
The allegation forms part of a set of complaints involving claims of harassment and forced religious conversion at the office.
The alleged harassment began in 2022, soon after he joined the company, and included pressure to follow religious practices against his will.
He alleged that his team leaders forced him to wear a skullcap, recite the kalma and offer namaz.
According to him, the conduct went beyond workplace harassment and extended into coercion related to personal beliefs and private life.
The employee named team leader Tausif Akhtar and colleague Danish Sheikh among those who allegedly targeted him.
Being in a position of authority, Akhtar allegedly burdened him with excessive work, including assignments belonging to other employees, in order to keep him under pressure and compel compliance with instructions.
Both Akhtar and Sheikh were earlier named in a First Information Report filed by a 23-year-old employee who alleged that Danish Sheikh attempted to forcibly kiss her and pressured her to marry him.
She also alleged that Danish’s associates, including Akhtar and HR executive Nida Khan, made objectionable remarks about Hindu deities and attempted to influence her religious beliefs.
WOMAN EMPLOYEE ALLEGES HARASSMENT
Separately, NDTV reported that a woman employee at the TCS Nashik office alleged she was isolated and made to work alone on a rooftop terrace, where her phone and personal belongings were confiscated.
“I was made to work alone on the rooftop, and my phone and bag were confiscated,” she was quoted as saying, adding that whenever she came downstairs, her belongings were taken away “under the pretext of security or other excuses.”
The employee alleged that young women aged between 20 and 25 were treated as “soft targets”.
“They thought that it would be easy to trap them. If you have any complaints, then you go to your HR. But here, even the HR was scared,” she said, urging women to speak up against what she described as a “dark culture” in offices.
A contractual employee was also quoted as saying that workers were allegedly encouraged to form relationships with Hindu women and influence their religious beliefs.
“They used to say, ‘Go make Hindu girls your girlfriends and marry them’.
They used to say ‘convert your religion’ and used to talk about their religion.
They were also given money,” the contractual employee claimed.
SIT PROBES POSSIBLE COLLUSION, MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FILED
In another incident, a female employee alleged that she was discouraged from filing a complaint of sexual harassment and attempted religious conversion.
“These things happen,” a senior Human Resources (HR) official told the woman, news agency PTI reported, citing police.
According to news agency ANI, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case has found that complaints by victims were allegedly not escalated to higher authorities within the company.
Police have described HR manager Nida Khan as the alleged “mastermind” who attempted to suppress complaints and shield the accused individuals despite being part of the office’s Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Committee.
Investigators have recovered around 78 “suspicious” call records, emails and chats exchanged among the accused, and are also examining possible financial transactions as part of the probe.
The SIT is looking into the possibility of collusion among the accused after analysing communication records.
Police sources also said an Assistant General Manager at the Nashik branch allegedly contacted one of the accused even after a case had been registered.
So far, nine cases have been registered in connection with the matter, including one complaint by a male employee.
One case has been registered at Deolali Camp police station and eight at Mumbai Naka police station.
Several accused individuals, including Danish Sheikh and others, are currently lodged in Nashik Road Jail.
Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran has ordered an internal investigation, stating that the allegations are being treated with the “utmost seriousness” and reiterating that the group maintains a “zero-tolerance policy towards any form of coercion or misconduct.”
Authorities said the alleged incidents are believed to have taken place between 2022 and 2026, and the investigation remains ongoing.
MAHARASHTRA GOVT PLANNING TO LAUNCH HELPLINE NUMBER
Following the incident, the Maharashtra government is considering launching a helpline number for affected individuals similar to the Nashik TCS case.
Commenting on the matter, cabinet minister Nitesh Rane said, “We are being contacted through different platforms and Hindu organisations, and being told that many employees are being exploited in many companies and that they want to come forward.”
“We, as the Maharashtra government, are thinking of launching a helpline number so that any victim who is affected or is witnessing such a situation can come and contact us, and we can help them immediately.”
April 16, 2026, 10:50 IST
Read More
