Women on Thursday held a ‘Ranragini Jan Aakrosh’ bike rally in Maharashtra’s Nashik, protesting against alleged incidents of religious conversion and sexual harassment linked to the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) office in the city.
Several participants raised slogans and demanded strict action against those accused in the case.
Watch | Devayani Farande alleges coercion, demands strict action
#WATCH | Nashik, Maharashtra: Women hold `Ranragini Jan Akrsoh` bike rally over Nashik TCS alleged religious conversion and sexual harassment.
BJP MLA Devayani Farande says, “Pressuring Hindu girls to hold roza and offer namaz, raping them, and converting them is against the… pic.twitter.com/xLDAgkCx7a
— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2026
BJP MLA Devayani Farande, who participated in the rally, made strong remarks while addressing the issue. She alleged that Hindu girls were being pressured to observe roza and offer namaz, and accused the perpetrators of sexual assault and forced religious conversion.
Farande called for stringent action, stating that those found guilty should face severe punishment under the law. She also demanded strict legal measures, including the attachment of the property of the accused.
Foreign funding and extremist angles under scanner
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.