Maharashtra: 80 lakh women found ineligible for Ladki Bahin scheme
The Opposition parties have alleged that the Devendra Fadnavis-led government was weeding out large number of beneficiaries due to a "severe financial crisis".
What started as a workplace complaint has now snowballed into a case that’s drawing attention across the country. Employees at Tata Consultancy Services’ BPO unit in Nashik have alleged sexual exploitation and attempts to force religious conversion, prompting a police probe and strong reactions from political leaders.
The issue isn’t new. Some complaints go back to 2022, but things escalated in March this year when a woman accused a colleague of maintaining a relationship with her on the false promise of marriage. That one complaint opened the floodgates. More employees came forward, FIRs multiplied, arrests followed, and a Special Investigation Team is now looking into allegations that appear to have gone on for years.
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Nine FIRs, arrests; SIT formed to probe multi-year allegations
According to police, nine FIRs have been registered so far, with multiple arrests made in connection with the case. The accused include Shah Rukh Qureshi, Shafi Sheikh, Tausif Attar, Raza Memon, Asif Ansari, and Danish Sheikh. They were produced in court and remanded to police custody.
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The investigation, supervised by Nashik Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik, is being carried out by a Special Investigation Team led by ACP Crime Sandeep Mitke. Authorities said the allegations involve both sexual offences and claims of religious coercion within the workplace.
Police said the first FIR was registered in March 2026 following intelligence inputs, after which additional complaints surfaced.
Victims allege harassment, coercion and ignored complaints
Multiple women employees, along with at least one male colleague, have approached the Nashik City Police alleging a pattern of harassment by a group of senior staff, particularly team leads.
The complainants have alleged repeated inappropriate touching, obscene remarks, molestation and, in some cases, physical relationships established under false promises of marriage. Victims also said they were put under pressure to take part in religious practices, with some alleging attempts to push them towards conversion.
In a separate complaint, a male employee claimed he was forced to participate in religious activities against his wishes.
Several complainants said they had flagged the issue earlier with senior officials and the HR department, but nothing really moved. It was found during the investigation that the HR head, identified as Nida Khan, had allegedly not acted on these repeated complaints. Her statement was recorded on April 10, 2026. She has been asked to cooperate with the investigation going forward.
WhatsApp groups and targeting claims under scrutiny
Sources said some employees had allegedly formed WhatsApp groups where discussions took place about targeting vulnerable colleagues. Investigators are now looking into claims that junior staff, especially young Hindu women, were identified and approached using inducements or personal influence.
Police described the case as involving a group operating within the workplace, and are probing all angles to determine the extent of the alleged activities.
Authorities have also urged more victims to come forward and have shared a dedicated WhatsApp number for complaints.
TCS suspends employees, reiterates ‘zero tolerance’
Tata Consultancy Services said it has suspended employees under investigation and is cooperating fully with authorities.
“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 well-being of our employees at the workplace. As soon as we were made aware of the matter in Nashik, we took swift action. The employees under investigation have been suspended pending enquiry. The firm is cooperating with local law enforcement authorities and any further action will be based on the conclusion of this investigation,” a TCS spokesperson said.
The company reiterated that further action will depend on the outcome of the ongoing probe.
Political reactions and protests intensify
The case has triggered protests outside the TCS facility in Nashik and drawn sharp political reactions.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the allegations as shocking and called the matter serious, while praising the police response.
State minister Nitesh Rane questioned the role of the HR department and called for a strong legal response, alleging that the incidents pointed to a broader pattern.
Investigation ongoing, no chargesheet yet
Police said the investigation is still underway and no chargesheet has been filed so far. The SIT is examining all complaints and evidence, including allegations related to sexual harassment, assault and religious coercion under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code.
The case has reignited debate over workplace safety in the IT sector, the vulnerability of young employees and the effectiveness of internal grievance systems in large organisations.
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