In the ongoing case at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Assistant General Manager Ashwini Chainani has been remanded to 14-day judicial custody till April 28 after her arrest from Pune. The case, linked to allegations of sexual harassment and religious coercion at the company’s Nashik BPO unit, is currently being investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Police said Chainani, who also served as a member of the company’s internal POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) panel, played a key role in the matter under investigation.
Allegations of Suppressing Complaints
According to investigators, Chainani is accused of discouraging a victim from pursuing a sexual harassment complaint. Prosecutors told the court that she allegedly asked the complainant, “Do you merely want publicity?” and pressured her to “let it go” and “drop the matter.”
Officials argue that such actions may have enabled the alleged misconduct to continue unchecked, despite her senior position and responsibility within the organisation.
Links With Accused Under Scanner
Investigating officer Gautam Survade informed the court that Chainani had been in contact with prime accused Tausif Atar at least 38 times over the past two years. She was also reportedly in regular communication with other accused individuals, including Danish Shaikh and Raza Memon.
These connections have raised suspicions about her possible involvement in the wider alleged conspiracy.
Digital Evidence Under Examination
The SIT is also examining 78 “suspicious emails” received by Chainani through official company servers. Investigators believe these emails may contain details related to complaints filed by victims or other crucial information linked to the case.
Officials say this digital trail could be key in establishing the extent of involvement of those accused.
Multiple Complaints and Arrests
So far, police are probing nine complaints related to sexual harassment and alleged forced religious conversion at the Nashik unit. Seven employees, including Chainani and six male accused, have been arrested.
Defence Raises Questions
Chainani’s lawyer has argued that she became a member of the POSH committee only in 2026, whereas the alleged incidents date back to 2023. The defence has questioned how earlier complaints were handled before her tenure.
TCS Responds
TCS has maintained that no formal complaints were recorded through its internal ethics or POSH channels. The company also clarified that Nida Khan, widely described in some reports as an HR manager, was actually a process associate and did not hold any leadership role.
Rejecting claims about disruption, TCS said its Nashik unit continues to operate normally.
Reiterating its stance, the company said it follows a “zero-tolerance policy” towards misconduct and is cooperating fully with authorities. “We remain fully committed to the safety, dignity, and well-being of every employee,” the company said in a statement.
Investigation Ongoing
Police officials indicated that the probe is still underway and more arrests or questioning may follow as evidence continues to emerge.
