The ongoing investigation into the TCS BPO case in Nashik has taken a more serious turn as multiple complainants continue to come forward with their testimonies. What initially appeared to be an isolated workplace complaint has now expanded into a broader probe involving allegations of religious coercion, harassment, and even suspected human trafficking links, raising concerns about what some observers are terming a new form of “Corporate Jihad.”
The case has sparked alarm, particularly because the incidents took place in a corporate environment, spaces typically associated with educated and professional communities. The possibility that such workplaces could become centres of indoctrination and coercion has added a new dimension to the unfolding investigation.
One of the key testimonies comes from a 36-year-old complainant, identified as Sapna Bangera (name changed, surname retained), whose statement is part of FIR Number 164/2026.
In her complaint, she has named multiple individuals, Danish Sheikh, Tausif Sheikh, Raza Memon, Shafi Sheikh, Shahrukh Qureshi, Asif Ansari, and Sohail Pathan alleging sustained harassment and misconduct within the office premises. Based on her complaint, the accused have been booked under Sections 78, 79, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Providing background about her role, the complainant told the police, “I have been working in TCS company for the last 11 years and have been working as a Team Leader at TCS Nashik branch for the last 07 years. Currently, there are 27 Associate Women/Girls and Men under my jurisdiction. My work is to inform the outstanding bill holders of Axis Bank Credit Card holders through telecalling and my work is done from the Odyssey 02 department.”
She further stated that the accused individuals were known to her as colleagues and alleged a pattern of behaviour targeting employees from other religions.
According to her complaint, “Danish Sheikh, Tausif Sheikh, Raza Memon, Shafi Sheikh, Shahrukh Qureshi, Asif Ansari, Sohail Pathan, who work in our office, are all employees and I know them well. These people live together in our office and deliberately harass boys and girls of other religions. They do this by making dirty comments on girls, making obscene remarks, looking at them from head to toe with different eyes.”
Recounting a specific incident from 2022, she said, “In the year 2022, I was sitting on my chair in a meeting in the afternoon when Shafi Sheikh was standing about three feet in front of me. At that time, I realised that Shafi was staring at my chest and was smiling faintly. I could not bear to see him strangely, so I got up and came out.”
She further described how the incident affected her emotionally and led her to seek help internally. “When I met Singh, a team leader working in our company, in the lobby, I told him everything. At that time, Singh took me to Senior Manager Kapoor as I could not hold back my tears. I told Kapoor about Shafi.”
According to her statement, despite raising a formal complaint, the action taken was limited. “When I complained about it to Kapoor and Singh through email, they only transferred Shafi Shaikh to another department. Even then, he would come after me and try to talk to me without any reason. Many girls in our office have repeatedly complained verbally to Kapoor about Shafi Shaikh.”
One of the most serious allegations in her complaint pertains to what she described as an attempt at religious or personal interference.
Recalling an incident from February 2026, she stated, “One Sunday in February 2026, during lunchtime, Tausif, who worked in the dialer team in our office, came to me and asked about my health. I told him that my sister-in-law had recently had a miscarriage and that I was not feeling well.”
She continued, “At that time, I felt that Tausif was looking down at me and looking at me strangely. Since Tausif knew that I was childless, he told me about this, ‘I will give you the mobile number of a cleric in Ajmer, I assure you that after going to Ajmer, you will have a child, you should go there once.’ I found it embarrassing for him to talk about my personal life in this way, so I did not give him any answer at that time. But he has repeatedly tried to discuss this subject even when I did not want to.”
Summarising her allegations, the complainant stated, “However, between the years 2022 and February 2026, I have a legal complaint against Shafi Sheikh, Tausif Attar, who worked in our office at TCS Company for staring at my chest and smiling awkwardly during a meeting, which made me feel ashamed and for making shameful comments about my lack of children in my personal marital life.”
What began as a single complaint has now expanded significantly. Between March 26 and April 3, as many as nine FIRs have been registered in connection with the case, indicating a broader pattern of allegations emerging from within the same workplace.
So far, Maharashtra Police have arrested several accused individuals, including Danish Sheikh, Tausif Attar, Raza Memon, Shahrukh Qureshi, Asif Ansari, Shafi Sheikh, and Ashwini Chanani. Another accused, Nida Khan, remains absconding, while the others are currently in police custody.
Given the gravity and recurring nature of the allegations, authorities have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a detailed probe. Officials have indicated that the case is not being treated as an isolated incident but rather as a potentially organised pattern of misconduct spanning several years.
In a significant development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also joined the investigation, further underscoring the seriousness of the matter and the possibility of wider links being examined, including the alleged trafficking angle reported earlier.
As the investigation continues, more testimonies and details are expected to emerge, potentially shedding further light on the scale and nature of the allegations within the Nashik TCS BPO setup.
