Six Tech Firm Executives Arrested In Nashik For Sexual Harassment, Rape; SIT Formed

The victims had earlier filed formal complaints under the POSH Act with the company’s HR head.

According to police, the incidents allegedly took place over a period of two to three years inside the company’s premises.(Image: File photo-Representational)

A major workplace harassment case has shaken Maharashtra’s Nashik after seven people- six team leaders and a human resources official- at a leading IT company were arrested on charges ranging from sexual harassment and molestation to rape and hurting religious sentiments. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the matter, with police suspecting that more victims may come forward as the probe deepens.

Nine First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered, covering nine victims- eight women and one man. The six male accused have been identified as Asif Ansari, Shafi Sheikh, Shah Rukh Qureshi, Raza Memon and Tausif Attar. The seventh accused is a woman who served as the company’s HR representative, based out of Pune.

According to police, the incidents allegedly took place over a period of two to three years. Victims- mostly women aged between 18 and 25- claim they were subjected to inappropriate physical advances, objectionable comments about their bodies and clothing, and repeated remarks targeting their religion. One accused in the rape case is married and is alleged to have drawn the victim into a relationship under false pretences before the assault took place.

Police sources said victims were repeatedly called names targeting their religion. The lone male victim among the nine was bullied using religious slurs and was allegedly forced to consume beef. In one particularly striking account relayed by police, a female victim who previously wore jeans and western clothing to work gradually began wearing Indian clothes and started covering her face with a dupatta. She also began observing Roza. Her family noticed the changes but did not initially raise an alarm. It was only when she began fasting that they realised something had gone wrong and filed a complaint.

HR Official Arrested

The victims had earlier filed formal complaints under the POSH Act- the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013- but allege that no action was taken. Police have since arrested the HR official as well, on charges related to the alleged suppression of those complaints.

SIT To Investigate Further

Given the scale of the case- spanning nine victims, multiple types of offences and allegations of institutional inaction- a Special Investigation Team has been constituted to lead the probe. Police have indicated they are investigating from all angles and believe additional victims may not yet have come forward. Authorities have urged anyone with relevant information to contact the SIT.

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