The investigation into alleged religious conversion and sexual harassment at a Nashik branch of an IT giant suggests that seven male accused operated as an organised gang to target female employees, a senior officer has said.
As reported by news agency PTI, police have registered nine cases in connection with the allegations. While seven men and a woman have been arrested, one female accused is on the run.
Nashik Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik, while explaining the role of the two female accused who were arrested earlier, said that the operations and HR head of the unit had allegedly discouraged a victim from submitting a complaint, saying “these things happen” and sided with the accused.
Speculation of foreign funding and involvement of an extremist organisation
In a related development, the Nashik court on Wednesday remanded the female operations manager in judicial custody till April 28.
Responding to reports speculating involvement of any extremist organisation or funding from abroad for the accused, the police commissioner said a thorough investigation is underway, and the police have written to the SID, ATS and NIA.
“As and when we get some evidence, we will be able to come to a conclusion about the same,” the investigation officer also added.
He also highlighted that nine cases registered by the police include a complaint lodged by a male employee of the firm, alleging an attempt at religious conversion and religious harassment at the workplace.
Earlier this week, the police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the complaints lodged by eight female employees, who claimed that senior colleagues mentally and sexually harassed them, while the human resources department ignored their complaints.
Police have arrested eight employees of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), including seven men and the female operations manager. Another female employee is absconding, according to investigators.
The male accused are identified as Danish Sheikh, Tausif Attar, Raza Memon, Shahrukh Qureshi, Shafi Sheikh, Asif Aftab Ansar, and Shahrukh Sheikh.
TCS officials express concern
Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran had termed sexual harassment as “gravely concerning and anguishing”, and announced that a thorough investigation is underway under TCS`s Chief Operating Officer Arathi Subramanian to establish the facts and identify individuals responsible for the situation.
(With inputs from PTI)