Five days after the issue first came to light, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in a statement said it is cooperating with police in the ongoing investigation into allegations of sexual harassment at its Nashik office.
“TCS has a long-standing zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion of any form. We have always ensured the highest standards of safety and wellbeing of our employees at the workplace. As soon as we were made aware of the matter in Nashik, we took swift action. The employees being investigated, have been suspended pending enquiry. We are cooperating with the local law enforcement authorities, and any further action will be based on the conclusion of this investigation,” a TCS spokesperson said.
The case was first reported mid last week, but the name of the company was not made public by authorities or any related spokespersons.
FIRs and Arrests
The case involves complaints from multiple women employees, following which police have registered FIRs based on separate complaints. As many as nine FIRs have been filed and seven arrests were made last week. Over the weekend, the human resources personnel involved in the matter was taken in custody, also pending investigation.
The complaints relate to alleged incidents of inappropriate physical contact, sexually coloured remarks and other forms of workplace misconduct, with some complaints referring to incidents over a period of 4 years.
Historical Misconduct
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the case. Police said statements of complainants and other individuals are being recorded as part of the investigation, and relevant evidence is being examined.
Police have also indicated that further action may follow as the investigation progresses.
The role of internal processes, including the handling of complaints and related records, is also part of the inquiry. Police said the investigation is ongoing, and further steps will be based on the findings.