A complaint of alleged religious conversion has snowballed into a major crisis for the Nashik office of TATA Consultancy Services. A senior officer stated that the seven male accused often behaved like an 'organised gang' to target female employees.
Police launched a covert operation at the BPO firm after a female employee filed a complaint at Devlali police station in March, accusing one of her seniors of rape.
Eight more staff members came forward and lodged complaints regarding sexual harassment. Police have registered a total of nine FIRs related to rape, sexual harassment, and hurting religious sentiments.
A special investigation team (SIT) has been formed to probe further into the case. The SIT will also probe the complaints lodged by eight female employees, who claimed that senior colleagues mentally and sexually harassed them, and the inaction of the human resources department.
The National Commission for Women has taken suo motu cognisance of the case and set up a fact-finding committee to probe the alleged incidents of sexual harassment.
TCS has condemned the incident and stated that the firm has a 'zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion.' A plea has been filed before the Supreme Court to take suo moto cognizance of the matter of 'organised' religious harassment in the BPO firm.
