Nashik, Maharashtra — A major scandal has erupted at a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) unit of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Nashik, where multiple women employees have alleged sustained sexual harassment, coercion, and attempted religious conversion over nearly four years. The case has drawn widespread attention after police revealed that a senior HR official allegedly dismissed a woman's complaint by saying "these things happen" and advised her against reporting it, while reportedly siding with the accused.
According to Nashik Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik, the HR and operations heads at the facility discouraged at least one survivor from filing a formal complaint. The official is said to have minimised the allegations internally and failed to escalate them properly under the company's POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) framework. Police have arrested a female HR manager, identified in reports as Nida Khan (who was reportedly linked to the unit and later described as absconding in some updates before custody), along with other staff. One operations manager, Ashwini Chainani, has been remanded to judicial custody.
The allegations surfaced after eight women (and one male employee) filed complaints spanning 2022 to early 2026. Victims described incidents including stalking, groping, molestation, mental harassment, and pressure involving religious practices such as offering namaz or wearing hijab. Some accounts mention grooming tactics targeting vulnerable recruits, with complaints allegedly ignored despite internal emails and escalations. Police deployed undercover women officers posing as staff to investigate tip-offs, leading to nine FIRs and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe.
TCS has responded by suspending the accused employees and temporarily shutting down on-site operations at the Nashik BPO facility. Staff were instructed on April 16, 2026, to work from home until further notice. The company has stated it is cooperating fully with authorities and takes such matters seriously, emphasising swift action once formal complaints reached senior levels. However, questions persist about potential compliance gaps in internal grievance mechanisms.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has formed a fact-finding committee, with an on-site inquiry scheduled for April 18. The case has sparked broader discussions on workplace safety in India's IT and BPO sector, with calls for stricter audits of POSH implementation.
This incident highlights ongoing challenges in corporate handling of harassment complaints, where victims sometimes face discouragement rather than support. Police continue to examine digital evidence, including emails and chats, while one accused reportedly remains absconding. Further arrests or developments are expected as the SIT investigation progresses.
TCS, one of India's largest employers, has faced scrutiny in the past over workplace issues, but this case stands out due to the scale of allegations and alleged institutional lapses at the HR level. Authorities have urged other potential victims to come forward without fear.
This report is based on statements from Nashik Police, court proceedings, and coverage by multiple Indian news outlets as of April 16, 2026. Investigations are ongoing, and all accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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