In the wake of serious allegations of forced conversion, sexual harassment, and workplace bullying at its Nashik campus, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Chief HR Officer Sudeep Kunnumal has reaffirmed the company's commitment to fostering a safe and empowering environment for all employees. The statement comes weeks after Nashik Police filed a comprehensive chargesheet detailing the accusations.
Allegations at Nashik Campus Detailed in Chargesheet
The Nashik Police chargesheet, compiled from statements of 106 witnesses, outlines grave accusations against multiple TCS employees. Central to the case is a 23-year-old IT professional who allegedly faced systematic isolation from her faith, sexual exploitation, and pressure to adopt Islamic theology. This coercion reportedly involved exposure to videos by figures like Zakir Naik and Dr. Israr Ahmed.
The investigation, led by a state-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT), has expanded beyond the initial three accused, extending to include AIMIM corporator Matin Patel from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Furthermore, eight additional First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered at the Mumbai Naka police station, with several women employees coming forward with allegations of exploitation, molestation, forced dietary changes, and coercion into Islamic practices.
One specific account in the chargesheet details how an employee, Danish Shaikh, a married man, allegedly exploited the victim's emotional vulnerability, leading to sexual assault under the false promise of marriage. He is accused of controlling her spiritual and daily life, instructing her to cease traditional religious practices and instead recite Islamic prayers for mental relief.
TCS Response and Workplace Commitment
TCS has publicly stated its firm stance of zero tolerance towards any form of coercion and confirmed the suspension of all implicated employees. The National Commission for Women (NCW) also took suo motu cognisance of complaints from the Nashik office, submitting a fact-finding report to the Maharashtra government. The NCW committee's findings suggested that accused individuals held significant control over the TCS Nashik unit and systematically targeted young women with sexual, emotional, and mental harassment.
Amidst these developments, HR Chief Sudeep Kunnumal highlighted the company's broader efforts in employee welfare. He noted that women employees constitute 35 percent of TCS's global workforce, representing 148 nationalities. Kunnumal also mentioned recent annual salary increments for all associates globally and the alignment of salary structures with new India Labour Code requirements. He emphasized continuous investment in AI infrastructure and next-generation skill development platforms, all aimed at ensuring employees are future-ready and feel "safe, valued, trusted and empowered to grow" within the company.