A storm of controversy continues to engulf one of India’s premier IT giants as the “TCS BPO case” unfolds in Nashik. What began as a family’s concern over a daughter’s sudden religious shift has spiraled into a massive investigation involving a Special Investigation Team (SIT), allegations of a “grooming racket,” and international trafficking probes.
The case first gained traction on March 26, shortly after Eid, when the family of a 23-year-old TCS employee approached the Devlali police. They reported that the woman, from a staunchly Hindu background, had begun wearing a hijab and fasting during Ramadan.
The family alleged that the woman confessed to being in love with her colleague, Danish Shaikh (31), who had reportedly promised marriage. However, the narrative shifted when the woman discovered Shaikh was already married with children. Following an intervention by Nashik Commissioner of Police Sandeep Karnik, Shaikh was booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for sexual intercourse through deceitful promise to marry, sexual harassment, and insulting religious beliefs.
As the investigation deepened, the police narrative shifted from an isolated relationship to a wider conspiracy within the BPO unit. Investigators allege that a group of employees worked in tandem to:
- Encourage Hindu female colleagues to remove religious symbols.
- Romanticize Islamic attire and teachings.
- Facilitate relationships with Muslim male colleagues.
- Provide religious texts and burqas to victims.
Perhaps most shocking are the SIT’s claims that there were plans to traffic some victims to Malaysia once conversion documents were finalized.
The Arrest of Nida Khan
On Thursday night, the police secured a major breakthrough with the arrest of Nida Khan (26) in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Khan, who had been on the run for 25 days, is accused of playing a central role in the alleged racket.
Following the rejection of her anticipatory bail plea, Khan is expected to be produced before a Nashik court today. She is one of eight employees—six men and two women—facing a barrage of FIRs that include charges of rape and religious coercion.
In an unusual move, Nashik Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik deployed a team of six female officers to infiltrate the TCS BPO. Posing as housekeeping staff through a third-party vendor, these undercover operatives monitored the workplace environment without the knowledge of TCS management.
An SIT led by ACP Sandeep Mitke is currently probing the “international links” mentioned in the preliminary findings.
The case has cast a long shadow over Tata Consultancy Services, prompting a direct response from CEO and MD K Krithivasan. In a statement released on April 17, the CEO emphasized the company’s “zero-tolerance policy towards any form of coercion or misconduct.”
“TCS holds itself to the highest standards of employee welfare and institutional conduct… We continue to extend full cooperation to the law enforcement agencies so that the matter is investigated thoroughly.”
TCS has since suspended all staff members involved in the FIRs.
Defending six of the accused are veteran lawyers Baba Sayyed and Rahul Kasliwal. The duo, partners for 25 years, are now navigating a case that has not only convulsed the city of Nashik but has also raised significant questions regarding media overreach, HR oversight, and the nature of the police investigation.
As the SIT continues its probe, the legal community and the public alike are watching closely to see how the court balances these explosive allegations against the evidence presented.
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