Pimpri-Chinchwad Police have registered a case against three individuals, including two employees of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), in connection with the alleged suicide of a 48-year-old IT professional from Pune district. The deceased, identified as Amit Abhay Brahme, worked at TCS's Hinjawadi facility and was found dead at his residence on June 2.
Case Registered Under Abetment of Suicide
The case was registered at Bhosari police station under Section 108 (abetment of suicide) and Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police stated that the FIR was filed on June 9 based on a complaint by Brahme's 19-year-old son, Anish Brahme. The complaint alleged that Amit Brahme was subjected to prolonged mental harassment, humiliation, and defamation, which pushed him to take the extreme step.
Accused Named in FIR
The FIR names Vinod Jethalal Palicha and two TCS employees identified as Archana and Shashwati. Police confirmed that a suicide note was recovered after Brahme's death. Family members claimed that the note mentioned the emotional distress and pressure he had allegedly been facing for a long time.
Suicide Note Details
In the purported suicide note, Brahme allegedly accused his friend Vinod Palicha of sending defamatory emails about him to the company. The note also named colleagues Archana and Shashwati, alleging that they repeatedly humiliated him in front of other employees, denied him favorable work assignments, and gave him projects outside his area of expertise. The note further claimed that the two colleagues reprimanded him over his performance, asked him to quit his job in front of co-workers, and threatened to give adverse feedback.
Family Alleges Workplace Pressure
According to the complaint, Brahme was allegedly sidelined at work, with important assignments being taken away from him. The family alleged that he was pressured to resign and threatened with negative performance assessments. Apart from workplace allegations, the family accused Palicha of filing false criminal complaints against Brahme and sending legal notices that allegedly caused further mental distress. The complainant also alleged that defamatory communications were circulated to TCS about Brahme and that Palicha had sent an email to the company to defame him.
Wife Suffering from Chronic Illness
A police officer said Brahme's wife was also suffering from a chronic illness. "His wife was also suffering from a chronic illness. Frustrated by the harassment, he took the extreme step at his house on June 2. He mentioned the names of all three accused in the suicide note. Our investigation is on," the officer said. Another police official added, "We have registered a case under section 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and are conducting further investigation. No arrest has been made so far." Police said statements of relevant people will be recorded as part of the investigation.
TCS Responds
TCS expressed condolences over Brahme's death and said it was looking into the allegations. "We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague, Amit Brahme. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and loved ones during this extremely difficult time. The wellbeing of our employees is of utmost importance to us and we are extending all support to the bereaved family. We have also taken note of the allegations against the two employees and are ascertaining the facts. Complete cooperation is being extended to relevant authorities as they continue their investigation. As this is an ongoing process, it won't be appropriate for us to comment further at this stage. We remain committed to fostering a workplace that is respectful, supportive, and inclusive for all our employees," the company said in a statement.
