The National Commission for Women (NCW) on May 11, released key findings from its fact-finding inquiry into complaints raised by several women employees working at the Nashik office of TCS. The Commission had taken suo motu cognisance of the matter after serious allegations emerged regarding workplace sexual harassment, intimidation, stalking, bullying, and institutional failure in addressing complaints.
Under the directions of NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, a committee comprising former Bombay High Court judge Justice Sadhna Jadhav, former Haryana DGP B.K. Sinha, Supreme Court advocate Monika Arora, and NCW Senior Coordinator Lilabati visited Nashik on April 18 and 19, 2026.
The panel interacted with victims, members of the Internal Committee under the POSH Act, police officials, and other witnesses before preparing a report of more than 50 pages. The report was later submitted to Devendra Fadnavis on May 8, 2026.
“Deeply disturbing and toxic workplace environment”: NCW
In its findings, the Commission said the Nashik office stated, “A deeply disturbing and toxic workplace environment marked by pervasive sexual harassment and abuse of authority at the workplace.”
The report alleged that the accused individuals had assumed “effective control” over the Nashik office and systematically targeted “young and vulnerable girls,” subjecting them to sexual, emotional, and mental harassment.
According to the NCW, the complainants “were indeed sexually harassed” and there were “attempts of molestation at the hands of the accused persons.”
The report further described the matter as a classic case of workplace sexual harassment involving bullying, stalking, humiliating conduct, inappropriate comments, and behavioural patterns that caused women employees to feel “humiliated and disrespected.” It added that several women suffered sustained mental harassment inside the workplace.
The key accused in the case was taken into police custody last week and produced before the Nashik Road Court.
National Commission for Women (NCW) had taken suo moto cognizance of the matter of complaints arising out of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Nashik, Maharashtra following serious allegations made by several women employees.
Under the directive of the Honorable Chairperson, Smt.… pic.twitter.com/R52SbX6rYJ— NCW (@NCWIndia) May 11, 2026
Hindu Belief were denigrated, Islam projected as “Far superior”
One of the most serious observations made by the Commission relates to repeated alleged anti-Hindu commentary inside the workplace.
The report stated, “The accused used to bully female employees by denigrating Hindu mythology, beliefs, traditions and practices and by impressing upon the girls that Islam was a far superior religion to Hinduism.”
The Commission further observed, “The accused indulged in degrading and belittling the faith in Hinduism and created a coercive atmosphere through repeated anti-religious commentary directed at women employees.”
According to the report, several victims informed the committee that younger employees, particularly those belonging to Generation Z, were especially vulnerable to such ideological pressure and anti-religious discourse.
The findings also noted that religious insults and denigrating remarks directed at Hindu beliefs formed part of a broader atmosphere of intimidation and psychological pressure faced by female employees at the Nashik office.
Employees afraid to complain due to fear of accused
The NCW report stated that many women employees wanted to file complaints but were afraid to do so because of social pressure, fear of stigma, and absence of a trustworthy complaint mechanism within the office.
The Commission alleged that the Nashik office was effectively controlled by accused individuals identified as Danish, Tausif, and Raza Memon, while alleging that they were protected by Ashwini Chainani.
According to the report, “No employee had the courage to raise their voice, and those who did so faced fear of the professional repercussions including transfer and terminations.”
The Commission further observed that Ashwini Chainani, “through her silence and insensitivity,” had allegedly endorsed the actions of the accused.
“Zero compliance” of POSH Act at Nashik Office
The report sharply criticised the implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 at the Nashik unit.
The Commission noted that the Internal Committee for Pune and Nashik was being operated as a common committee, which it termed a “direct contravention” of the POSH Act. It further observed that not a single Internal Committee member had ever visited or inspected the Nashik office for POSH compliance.
The report stated that the office lacked even the most basic mandatory compliance mechanisms under the law. There were allegedly no placards, posters, or notices informing employees about POSH provisions, no publicly displayed details of Internal Committee members, and no information regarding penalties for non-compliance under Section 19 of the POSH Act.
The committee also found that no awareness programmes had been conducted for employees and no orientation sessions had been organised for Internal Committee members.
In one of its strongest observations, the NCW stated: “In short, there was zero compliance of the POSH Act.”
The Commission further said it was “shocked at the insensitivity” displayed by members of the Internal Committee and stated that there was “no expression of empathy or sympathy” towards the affected women employees.
According to the report, the organisation’s failure was “not just a compliance deficit but a governance deficit as well.” The committee concluded that the Internal Committee had “miserably failed” in providing any effective workplace safety mechanism for women employees.
CCTV cameras installed but non-functional
The Commission also flagged serious security lapses at the Nashik office, noting that CCTV cameras had been installed but were allegedly non-functional.
The report identified the absence of an effective prevention and redressal mechanism as the most significant factor that allowed the alleged harassment to continue unchecked at the workplace.
NCW recommends
The Commission recommended strict compliance with Sections 19, 25, and 26 of the POSH Act and said that failure to implement these provisions should invite strict action.
The report also recommended mandatory preventive and prohibitory mechanisms against workplace sexual harassment and stressed that Internal Committees should function proactively rather than merely existing as formal structures.
