Two workplace cases: one inside a corporate BPO setup in Nashik and another at an NGO in Nagpur - have triggered outrage across Maharashtra. The allegations range from sexual harassment and mental abuse to religious coercion. While the settings differ, the incidents point to a disturbing pattern of power misuse and institutional failure.
At a Tata Consultancy Services BPO facility in Nashik, multiple women employees approached police earlier this year, alleging sexual harassment and coercion linked to religious practices. The complaints, spanning several years, led to the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) by Nashik Police. In a striking move, six women police personnel were deployed undercover at the facility for over a month to gather first-hand evidence. The probe has so far led to multiple FIRs and arrests, including team leaders and a senior HR official.
Investigators say the case revealed a breakdown of internal safeguards. According to police findings, the HR executive had allegedly ignored repeated complaints - emails, written submissions and chat records - failing to activate mandatory workplace harassment POSH protocols. The company has since suspended the accused and launched an internal review, even as the SIT continues to examine digital evidence, employee testimonies and compliance lapses.
A key development in the case involves an employee identified as Nida Khan, who has been named among the accused. According to investigators, she is accused of targeting employees through messaging groups, allegedly pressuring them to adopt certain religious practices, including prayer routines, dietary changes, and dress codes. Charges against her include provisions related to sexual harassment, defamation, and sections under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, though her defence has contested the applicability of the latter.
A court in Nashik declined to grant her interim protection from arrest during a recent hearing on her anticipatory bail plea. Khan, who is absconding and cited her two-month pregnancy in seeking relief, had requested immediate protection while her application is pending. However, the court chose not to pass any interim order and instead asked the police and the complainant to submit their responses. The matter is now scheduled for further hearing on April 27.
Meanwhile, the SIT has launched a multi-location search to trace Khan, forming dedicated teams to track her movements across Maharashtra. Police have also taken other accused into custody, with some remanded to judicial detention as the probe gathers pace. Officials say digital evidence, workplace communication records and testimonies are being closely examined to establish the extent of the alleged network and accountability within the organisation.
In Nagpur, a parallel case has unfolded at the 'Universal Multipurpose Society', where the director Riyaz Fazil Qazi has been arrested following allegations by a 23-year-old employee. In her complaint, she said that on her birthday, the accused called her to his cabin, hugged her against her will, kissed her forehead and remarked, "I don't want to leave you today". She further alleged repeated attempts to molest her, including an instance where he allegedly unplugged CCTV cameras before trying to embrace her.
The complaint also accuses the NGO head of intimidation and online harassment. Police say he allegedly created an Instagram account using a combination of his and the survivor's name to monitor her activity. The woman also claimed that her younger sister, who worked at the same NGO, was pressured to follow the practices of a particular religion. Officials say similar concerns were raised by other women employees. Qazi has been remanded to police custody, and investigators are now examining electronic devices, social media activity and statements of other staff members to establish a wider pattern.
The two cases have also sparked wider debate, with activists raising concerns over workplace safety and alleged coercion. She has called for stricter enforcement of laws and accountability mechanisms, particularly in cases involving vulnerable women employees.
Officials say both investigations are ongoing, with more arrests not ruled out. For now, the twin cases - spanning a corporate office floor and a grassroots NGO - have put the spotlight firmly on how institutions respond when complaints surface, and what happens when those systems fail.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
