Tata Consultancy Services has asked all employees at its Nashik BPO facility to work from home until further notice, as the investigation into allegations of sexual harassment and forced religious conversion continues to expand.
The decision to temporarily suspend on-site operations at the Ashoka Business Enclave office, where approximately 170 employees work across two shifts, was communicated on April 16, 2026. A company executive told Moneycontrol that the move was driven by employee safety concerns, following attempts by local political groups to vandalise the office premises earlier in the week.
CNN-News18 reported that TCS has also halted fresh recruitment at the Nashik unit for the duration of the ongoing probe.
Investigation deepens
The case, which first drew attention during TCS’s Q4 FY26 earnings call on April 10, has since grown significantly in scope. Nine FIRs have now been registered, eight at Mumbai Naka police station and one at Deolali Camp, covering allegations of sexual abuse, mental harassment, and coercion to participate in religious practices.
Police have named HR Manager Nida Khan as a key figure in attempts to suppress complaints from affected employees. According to investigators, she reportedly discouraged survivors from filing formal complaints and failed to escalate matters despite being a member of the facility’s POSH Committee, the statutory body mandated under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, 2013. Investigators also recovered approximately 78 call records, emails, and chats flagged as suspicious, along with evidence of potential financial transactions.
The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has also joined the probe, CNN-News18 reported, reflecting the widening institutional interest in the case.
Corporate and regulatory response
Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, has ordered an internal investigation. In an official statement, he described the allegations as “gravely concerning and anguishing” and said the company was treating the matter with “the utmost seriousness.”
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognisance of the case. In a formal statement, the commission said it had set up a panel to probe the alleged instances of sexual harassment at the facility.
The HR governance question
The alleged HR Manager’s role in discouraging complaint escalation has become a focal point. India’s POSH Act requires Internal Complaints Committees not only to receive complaints but to act independently of management influence. Investigators allege that in this case, a senior HR figure, rather than acting as a neutral committee member, may have actively shielded the accused.
The case adds to growing scrutiny of how large-scale, shift-based IT and BPO environments operationalise POSH compliance on the ground. TCS employs over 5.84 lakh people globally, with significant operations across Maharashtra.
The Nashik facility remains closed for on-site work as investigations continue across police, NCW, and internal channels. No timeline for resumption of normal operations has been communicated.
