TCS Nashik sexual harassment case: court remands two accused to police custody till 18 April

A court on Thursday sent two men accused in the TCS Nashik harassment case to police custody until April 18. The case involves claims of sexual harassment and forced religious conversion at a Tata Consultancy Services unit. Police said multiple complaints from women employees led to several FIRs and arrests.

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City police also warned against content that could expose the complainants’ identities. Police said some news channels and social media handles aired videos or posts that may reveal victims. Police added that disclosing any victim woman’s identity, directly or indirectly, is a crime. Police said such acts cause distress to victims and families.

TCS Nashik harassment case: court remand and charges

The accused are Raza Rafiq Memon, 35, and Shafi Bikhan Sheikh, 36. Police arrested both again on Wednesday after judicial custody in a related matter. The court heard the remand request on Thursday and ordered two days of police custody. Police booked them under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 74, 75, and 79.

Section 74 deals with outraging a woman’s modesty. Section 75 covers sexual harassment. Section 79 covers a word, gesture, act, or object meant to insult modesty. Police said the two men are among seven employees arrested so far. Those arrested include six men from the Nashik unit and a woman HR manager.

TCS Nashik harassment case: complaints, SIT, and arrests

Police said nine cases have been registered till now. An SIT was formed earlier this week to probe eight complaints by women employees. The complainants said senior colleagues harassed them mentally and sexually. The women also said the human resources department did not act on the complaints.

Some complainants also alleged attempts to covert them forcibly. Police said the women also reported harm to religious sentiments. Separately, TCS said on Sunday it follows a zero-tolerance approach to harassment and coercion. TCS also said employees allegedly involved in the Nashik office incidents have been suspended.

TCS Nashik harassment case: company response and NCW action

A day after the TCS statement, Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran commented on the matter. N Chandrasekaran said the complaints were "gravely concerning and anguishing\". N Chandrasekaran said a detailed probe was underway under Chief Operating Officer Arathi Subramanian. The aim was to establish facts and identify those responsible.

The National Commission for Women has also formed a fact-finding committee. Police said the broader investigation is continuing alongside court proceedings. The two accused remain in police custody till April 18 as ordered. Police said safeguarding complainants’ identities remains a legal requirement during the ongoing cases.

With inputs from PTI