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Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has suspended half a dozen employees who have been arrested over allegations of sexual harassment and forcible religious conversion in its Nashik office. The accused had been Asif Ansari, Shafi Sheikh, Shah Rukh Qureshi, Raza Memon, Tausif Attar, and Danish Sheikh, who had supervisory roles such as team leaders.

The suspensions follow nine FIRs registered by young women employees who claimed they were coerced, lewed, blackmailed, and pressured into conversion to different religions, such as being forced to practice certain practices. The six were arrested, together with an HR officer, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is currently investigating the case under MCOCA provisions.

TCS, in an official statement, claimed that the company has an old policy of zero tolerance towards any form of harassment and coercion. A spokesperson confirmed that as soon as we were informed about the issue, we acted promptly, and the employees under investigation are suspended awaiting investigation. The company has been cooperating totally with law enforcement, and new measures will be taken depending on the outcome of the investigation.

The case, which was uncovered by a bold undercover operation by women police officers, has brought serious questions to the safety of the workplace in the IT industry.