TCS Nashik BPO shuts operations, staff to work from home amid sex abuse case

TCS has temporarily shut its Nashik BPO and shifted staff to work-from-home after multiple FIRs and arrests in a widening scandal involving allegations of sexual abuse, harassment and forced religious conversion.

In Short

• Nine women allege sex harassment, religious coercion at TCS Nashik
• Probe finds seven male accused acted as organised gang at TCS
• Ops suspended at BPO facility, staff advised to work from home

Operations at the business process outsourcing (BPO) facility of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Maharashtra’s Nashik have been temporarily suspended amid the massive row over sexual abuse and forced conversion cases, with employees instructed on Thursday to work from home until further notice.

The Nashik centre of the IT giant came under scrutiny after a major scandal surfaced involving allegations of sexual abuse, mental harassment and religious coercion, prompting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe.

At least nine women employees have come forward, alleging a years-long pattern of sexual harassment and forced conversion. The allegations also include claims that staff were pressured to consume specific foods and participate in religious practices against their will.

According to Nashik Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik, the investigation suggests that seven male accused operated like an organised gang within the workplace, allegedly targeting female employees. “The seven male staffers are co-accused in most of the cases, indicating they acted as a group,” he said.

Police have registered nine FIRs so far, including one filed by a male employee alleging religious harassment and attempted conversion. Eight accused, including seven men and one woman, have been arrested, while another female accused remains absconding.

The arrested male accused have been identified as Danish Sheikh, Tausif Attar, Raza Memon, Shahrukh Qureshi, Shafi Sheikh, Asif Aftab Ansar and Shahrukh Sheikh.

According to police, some of the accused held positions of authority, such as team leaders, and allegedly misused their roles to harass co-workers. An officer added that one of the female accused, an HR head, allegedly discouraged a victim from filing a complaint, telling her that “these things happen”, and sided with the accused. Another woman has been named in a case of religious harassment.

The nine FIRs outline a recurring pattern of workplace sexual harassment over several years, dating back to 2022. This includes allegations of inappropriate touching, lewd remarks, stalking, intrusive questioning about personal lives, and repeated unwanted advances by multiple accused. In several cases, the behaviour allegedly persisted despite complaints, with one FIR also pointing to inaction by a senior official, effectively enabling the accused.

Alongside this, multiple complaints also allege religious harassment and coercion, including derogatory remarks against Hindu deities, pressure to participate in religious practices, and attempts at forced conversion, including being compelled to consume non-vegetarian food. Some FIRs indicate that both forms of abuse, sexual misconduct and religious targeting , often occurred simultaneously within the workplace.

The police have reached out to multiple agencies, including the State Intelligence Department (SID), Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and National Investigation Agency (NIA), to probe any possible larger links or funding angles. “As and when we get evidence, we will be able to draw conclusions,” Karnik said.

He noted that the first complainant was initially hesitant, but after counselling and support from the police, more victims came forward, leading to multiple FIRs. A woman Deputy Commissioner of Police and female personnel were also deployed to the office to facilitate interaction with employees and encourage complaints.

Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken note of the case on its own and constituted a fact-finding committee to conduct an on-site inquiry at the TCS BPO unit on April 18.

On Monday, Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran termed the allegations of sexual harassment “gravely concerning and anguishing” and announced that a thorough investigation is underway under TCS Chief Operating Officer Arathi Subramanian to establish the facts and identify those responsible.

- Ends