Nashik TCS Harassment Case: Accused's Relative Alleges Bajrang Dal Conspiracy
In a dramatic twist to the ongoing sexual harassment and religious coercion allegations at a Tata Consultancy Services unit in Nashik, a relative of one of the accused has claimed the case is "scripted" and part of a conspiracy orchestrated by the Bajrang Dal. The remarks come as a Nashik court remanded two accused in police custody until April 18, intensifying the legal scrutiny surrounding the high-profile incident.
Allegations of a Wider Plot
Speaking to reporters, the uncle of an accused asserted that the situation is driven by a broader conspiracy, stating, "All the families are troubled. Everything is happening as per a conspiracy... The Bajrang Dal are involved in this. The girl's family called Bajrang Dal. One person was let go after the investigation and then he was arrested again by the police. Everything that happened was scripted." He further argued that the case has been exaggerated, calling it a "false case" where allegations lack strong evidence and are not the major scandal being portrayed.
Legal Proceedings and Arrests
The two accused were freshly arrested on Wednesday after previously being remanded in judicial custody in a related matter. They were produced before the court, which granted a two-day police custody extension. Police have booked them under sections 74 (outraging the modesty of a woman), 75 (sexual harassment), and 79 (word, gesture, act or object intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. So far, seven employees—including six men from the TCS Nashik unit and a woman HR manager—have been arrested across nine cases, highlighting the scale of the investigation.
Investigation and Corporate Response
Police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe complaints filed by eight women employees, who allege mental and sexual harassment by senior colleagues and claim their reports were ignored by the HR department. Some complaints also include allegations of forced religious conversion and insults to religious sentiments. In response, Tata Consultancy Services has reiterated its "zero-tolerance" policy on harassment and suspended the accused employees. Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran described the allegations as "gravely concerning and anguishing," adding that a detailed investigation is underway under COO Arathi Subramanian.
National and Media Concerns
The National Commission for Women has constituted a fact-finding committee to examine the matter, adding another layer of oversight. Meanwhile, Nashik police have issued warnings about certain media outlets and social media accounts potentially revealing the identity of alleged victims, which is a criminal offence. Police emphasized that such disclosures cause "immense anguish" and urged strict compliance with laws protecting victim identity to ensure justice and privacy.
As the case unfolds, it continues to draw significant attention, with ongoing investigations by multiple authorities aiming to uncover the truth behind the serious allegations at the TCS facility in Nashik.
