The TCS Nashik conversion case doesn’t seem to be based on the statements of a few employees — the police had run a secretive operation for 42 days to uncover the facts.
Seven women cops from the Nashik police had worked undercover at the TCS Nashik office for more than a month to ascertain the claims made by women employees, Times Now Navbharat reports. The women cops, after a detailed investigation, caught some of the accused red-handed and proceeded with arresting the employees.
The matter had first come to light when the behaviour of some women employees at the company seemed to change. Their style of dressing changed — they stopped wearing lipsticks or western outfits. They began fasting for Ramzan, and distanced themselves from their Hindu beliefs. They also began distancing themselves from their friends. Their colleagues wondered what had happened, but the women were not forthcoming.
The undercover operation
Eventually, 10 impacted employees — 9 women and a man — went to the Nashik police to lodge complaints in February this year. The Nashik police launched ‘Operation Raid’ to get to the bottom of the case. The police selected 7 of its sharpest women cops, and slowly got them jobs at TCS Nashik.
For 42 days, these 7 women cops observed the goings-on in the office. They noticed patterns on how the accused behaved inappropriately with women. When the women entered a meeting taking place within the company, the accused was caught red-handed as he mistreated and behaved inappropriately with women. The police are currently examining over 40 CCTV footage clips to gather concrete evidence against the accused. The police then arrested six accused namely Asif Ansari, Shafi Sheikh, Shah Rukh Qureshi, Raza Memon, Tausif Attar, and Danish Sheikh.
The six are accused of targeting young women employees aged between 18 and 25, deliberately identifying those facing financial difficulties during job interviews by collecting details about their family background and household income. Women employees accused the men of making obscene comments about their bodies and clothes, touching them inappropriately, and mentally harassing them. One of the most serious allegations is of rape, where the accused is said to have forced a relationship by promising marriage. In one reported incident, a female employee was allegedly taken to a resort on a holiday and sexually assaulted.
The women also alleged forcible religious conversion. Complaints include forcing victims to offer namaz, compelling them to eat beef, and pressuring them to convert to another religion. The male complainant alleged he was repeatedly humiliated for his Hindu beliefs. The accused also forced a male colleague to perform Namaz, disrespecting his religion. Some women victims alleged they were compelled to adopt Islamic practices, including wearing a burqa and observing Ramzan fasts.