Several women employees at an MNC in Nashik have accused colleagues of sexual, mental and religious harassment. Police have registered 9 FIRs and arrested 6 accused. The case came to light through an undercover police operation.
A serious case of exploitation in office has come to light from Nashik, Maharashtra. Many women working in a multinational company here have accused their colleagues and senior staff of sexual, mental and religious harassment. Police have so far arrested six accused and the investigation is still ongoing. This case has shocked everyone because the allegations were on a very large scale and were going on for a long time.
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How was the matter revealed?
A dramatic turn in this case came when seven women police officers entered the company in disguise. He attended a meeting inside the office and allegedly saw one of the accused misbehaving with female employees. Officials said that during this operation the accused was caught ‘red handed’. This undercover operation helped corroborate the complaints and led to several arrests. Police are now examining more than 40 CCTV footage clips from inside the office to gather concrete evidence.
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Many complaints and FIR registered
According to the police, at least nine FIRs have been registered in this case. Of these, eight have been registered at Mumbai Naka Police Station and one at Devlali Police Station. Most of the complainants are girls aged between 18 to 25 years. He has alleged that this harassment continued for two to three years. These cases include serious allegations like rape, molestation, outraging dignity and hurting religious sentiments.
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Who are the accused?
The accused whose names have surfaced in the case include Asif Ansari, Shafi Shaikh, Shahrukh Qureshi, Raza Memon and Tausif Attar. Some of them were working as team leaders or engineers in the company. A woman HR officer attached to the company’s Pune office has also been booked for not taking action on complaints. So far, five accused have been arrested and sent to police custody till April 10. One accused is in judicial custody.
What is said in the allegations?
The complaints reveal a full story of serious abuse. Female employees have accused the men of making obscene comments about their body and clothes, touching them inappropriately and mentally harassing them. One of the most serious allegations is that of rape, in which it is said that the accused forcibly had sexual relations with the promise of marriage. Some victims have also claimed that they were followed, insulted during meetings and repeatedly targeted in the office.
Incidents narrated by victims
According to NDTV report, the police have mentioned several incidents in the FIR. These events are from 2022 to 2026. In one case, a woman said she was commented on because of her religion and an accused had physical relations with her on the false promise of marriage. In another case, two accused allegedly made embarrassing comments about a woman’s personal life and touched her inappropriately even after she complained. It has also been claimed that the women were stared at obscenely, mocked in meetings and pressured into physical proximity. In many cases, the accused are also accused of making derogatory remarks about religious beliefs in front of others.
allegations of religious pressure
Some of the most disturbing claims involve religious pressure. The victims have alleged that they were forced to perform religious rituals such as namaz and were pressured to change their religion. There are also claims that some women were forced to eat non-veg food against their will. In a related claim, a male employee has also said that he was pressured to change religion and follow certain religious practices. These allegations have made the matter even more serious.
Claims of ignored complaints
Many employees have told the police that they had earlier complained to the HR department of the company. However, he claims that no appropriate action was taken. The police said in a statement that instead of taking action on the complaints, a senior officer supported the accused. This has raised questions over the company’s internal system for handling office complaints.
Formation of special investigation team
Considering the seriousness of the case, the police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The team is led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sandeep Mitke and comprises about 12 officers. SIT is examining call records, CCTV footage and statements of witnesses. Police are also investigating whether this could be part of a larger organized pattern. Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik has ordered a detailed investigation. The investigation is still ongoing and more arrests are likely. Police are awaiting further evidence and detailed investigation of all FIRs. Officials have said the identities of the victims are being kept confidential for their safety. Police have also appealed to other victims to come forward if they have faced similar harassment. He has also shared a WhatsApp number to report such cases. Advocate Baba Syed, representing the accused, said the allegations may have stemmed from a misunderstanding in a shared office environment. He said that the truth will come out after a complete review of the FIR.