The Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) linked BPO unit in Nashik is under investigation after allegations of religious coercion, sexual harassment, and rape emerged. Key to the case is 26-year-old Nida Khan. Several conflicting reports poured in about her designation and her whereabouts. While some reports claim she was a hiring manager at the TCS unit, others claimed she was a ‘telecaller’. Similarly, contrasting claims have been made about her whereabouts. Some reports claim she is still absconding, while others claim she has been arrested. Nida has been dubbed the mastermind behind the scandal. However, her family has now come forward denying the claims reported over the last two weeks. The family has called the allegations as ‘foul play and digital harassment’, according to an HT report.
The family told HT that Nida Khan is currently at home in Mumbai and is filing for an anticipatory bail on medical grounds. They also told the reporters that she is ‘not on run’ and id expecting her first child.
The family claims that the police have not visited them yet. According to reports, Nida is currently pursuing an MBA.
Nida Khan Not An HR Head At TCS Nashik?
The family has also claimed that Nida Khan was not an HR head at the facility. The family says that a screenshot of her Instagram bio was taken and digitally morphed by miscreants. They claim that she had no role with the HR department and was a telecaller in the sales department.
What Is The Nashik TCS Case?
A covert police operation was carried out by the Nashik police after a tip-off in February. Six police officers went undercover at the BPO facility linked to the Nashik TCS.
The police officers, disguised as regular employees. worked as regular employees at the facility. A 23-old employee registered the first FIR on March 26, accusing TCS colleague Danish Shaikh of raping her repeatedly under the pretext of marriage. Following the initial FIR, police arrested eight other employees.
TCS Asks Employees at Nashik Office To Work From Home
TCS on Thursday asked its employees at its Nashik location to work from home as a precautionary measure for their convenience and safety amid the religious conversion and harassment claims. Sources confirmed that the decision was taken keeping employee safety in mind. The development comes amid an ongoing probe into allegations of religious conversion and sexual harassment at the TCS Nashik facility.
Nashik TCS Accused Ignored Repeated Complaints
The accused in the Nashik harassment case at the TCS branch had allegedly ignored repeated complaints by victims, failing to forward them to higher-ups in the company, the Special Investigating Team (SIT) probing the matter said on Wednesday.
According to the police, the HR Manager Nida Khan is the alleged ‘mastermind’ who tried to suppress the complaint and allegedly shield the accused.
During the investigation, Police officials recovered approximately 78 ‘suspicious’ call records, emails and chats exchanged between the accused. The police have found evidence of potential financial transactions too.
According to police, the HR manager repeatedly told the victims to drop the matter, and failed to take any concrete steps despite being a member of the POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) Committee in the office.
Meanwhile, police sources said that the Assistant General Manager at the TCS Nashik branch, allegedly was in contact with a third accused Danish Shaikh even after a case was registered, making a call to Shaikh prior to the arrest, police said.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the alleged harassment of women employees at TCS Nashik branch is also looking at the possibility of “collusion” between the accused, after analyzing the call and email records.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
