Amid the sexual harassment and religious conversion allegations surrounding the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Nashik branch, an employee has accused his team leader of workplace abuse and mistreatment.
The employee told the media that his team leader suggested he send his wife to him if he wanted a child, after learning that she couldn’t conceive.
“Since I didn’t have children, my team leader, Tausif Akhtar, and colleague, Danish Sheikh, made personal remarks, suggesting I send my wife to them. During an argument, Tausif angrily threw a fan at me and threatened to kill me. I reported this to HR,” he said, as quoted by News18.
The employee claimed that when he ignored his team leader’s demands, they sent false reports about him to the head office. He also alleged that Tausif and Danish were upset with him because he opposed their attempts at religious conversion.
Additionally, the employee alleged that his team leaders forced him to wear a skullcap, recite the kalma, and offer Namaz, as per the report. He further claimed that the accused also behaved inappropriately with female colleagues at the office.
In an account to another media outlet, the man alleged that after night shifts, he was taken to hotels and pressured into eating non-vegetarian food, despite being a strict vegetarian.
Tausif and Danish were arrested, along with six others, after police launched an investigation into the religious conversion and sexual harassment allegations at the Nashik branch of TCS.
A 23-year-old female employee had filed a complaint against the duo, claiming they attempted to forcibly kiss her. She also alleged that Danish, Tausif, and HR executive Nida Khan made objectionable remarks about Hindu deities and tried to influence her religious beliefs.
Police have registered nine cases in connection with the allegations. While seven men and one woman have been arrested, one female accused remains at large.
Nashik Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik stated on Wednesday that the operations and HR head of the unit had allegedly discouraged a victim from submitting a complaint, saying “these things happen” and sided with the accused.
Earlier this week, the police formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe complaints filed by eight female employees, who claimed they were mentally and sexually harassed by senior colleagues, while the human resources department ignored their complaints.
The male accused are identified as Danish Sheikh, Tausif Attar, Raza Memon, Shahrukh Qureshi, Shafi Sheikh, Asif Aftab Ansar, and Shahrukh Sheikh.