The ongoing investigation into alleged sexual harassment and forced religious conversion at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Nashik has taken a complex turn, with defence lawyer Baba Sayyed raising questions over the timeline of complaints, while the wife of an accused has claimed the case stems from a “soured relationship.”
Baba Sayyed Raises Questions on FIR and Case Origin
Advocate Baba Sayyed, speaking about the case, suggested that the matter began as a personal dispute before escalating into multiple criminal complaints.
Explaining the sequence, he said, “As far as I have read, the entire case started with a female employee. A complaint under Section 376 was filed, mentioning that Danish was her college friend. They later reconnected, he helped her get a job at TCS, and their relationship developed.”
He added that the two were in a consensual relationship for a period, during which they met frequently and even travelled together. However, differences later emerged between them.
According to him, “After some clashes between them, the complaint was filed. Initially, only one FIR was registered on March 26. But suddenly within one or two days, around eight FIRs were filed. This raises questions about how the investigation progressed so quickly.”
Sayyed also claimed that there was no clear mention of forced religious conversion in the initial complaint. “There is no mention anywhere that anyone forced her to convert to Islam. These were conversations that can happen in any friendship. There is no allegation that someone said ‘convert to Islam’ forcefully,” he said.
He further alleged that the case may be exaggerated and that other accused persons could have been unnecessarily implicated due to their association with the main accused.
Allegations in FIR: Relationship, Coercion and Harassment
According to the FIR filed by a 23-year-old woman employee, she met Danish Sheikh in 2022, and the two developed a close relationship. She alleged that he promised marriage and later forced physical relations.
The complaint also names others, including Tausif Akhtar and HR official Nida Khan, accusing them of harassment, coercion, and making objectionable remarks about her religion. The woman further alleged that she was pressured to convert and subjected to repeated exploitation between 2022 and 2026.
Police have registered multiple FIRs, and several accused employees have been arrested. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the matter.
Accused’s Wife Calls Case ‘Personal Fallout’
Meanwhile, the wife of one of the accused has offered a different version, claiming the case is the result of a failed relationship.
She told Money Control, “The relationship between Danish and the complainant was well known in the office. After things went wrong between them, the issue escalated and other people got dragged into it.”
She also alleged that multiple cases were “clubbed together,” and that some of the accused were being wrongly implicated.
According to her, the complainant’s family may have influenced the filing of complaints after the relationship ended. “Other men named in the case are innocent and have no connection to the allegations,” she claimed.
Probe Expands as More Complaints Surface
The case widened after several women employees came forward with similar allegations, leading to the registration of multiple FIRs. Police have arrested several staff members and are examining digital evidence.
TCS has suspended the accused employees and reiterated its “zero tolerance” policy towards harassment. The company has also launched an internal investigation.
