What began as a job opportunity quickly escalated into a distressing situation involving coercion, threats, and alleged sexual exploitation within the modern office buildings of a prominent IT company.
In an exclusive interview with India Today, a young woman has come forward accusing three colleagues at Tata Consultancy Services’ Nashik location of sexual harassment, intimidation, and pressure to convert her religion.
She is among several female employees who claim they were systematically targeted, subjected to sexual abuse, and pressured to change their faith, allegations that have shaken the IT giant. The issue surfaced following a covert operation by Nashik Police to investigate the complaints made by the victims.
THE BEGINNING
According to the woman, the main accused, Danish Shaikh, initially met her in January 2022, both being alumni of the same college. He offered her assistance in securing a job at his workplace, which led to the development of a friendship through frequent work-related meetings.
By July 2022, the situation took a coercive turn as per the survivor’s account. During a meeting, Danish allegedly kissed her forcibly and even proposed marriage when met with resistance. Despite evading a direct response, she stayed connected with Danish to pursue the job opportunity he had recommended.
After successfully landing a job at TCS Nashik, where Danish was employed, their interactions persisted within the workplace, often in the presence of co-accused Tausif Akhtar and HR manager Nida Khan.
A TURN FOR THE WORSE
During this period, the woman alleged that Danish, along with Tausif and Nida Khan, regularly engaged with her both inside and outside the office. Their conversations increasingly revolved around religious topics.
She claimed, “Danish Shaikh and Tausif frequently discussed the distinctions between Hinduism and Islam, attempting to persuade me of the superiority of their religion. They actively tried to convince me to embrace Islam.”
The situation took a dark turn in August 2024 when Danish allegedly coerced her into a sexual encounter at a hotel under false pretenses. Subsequently, Tausif allegedly used this incident to blackmail her.
She stated, “He threatened to disclose details of our relationship to my family and demanded physical intimacy from me as well.”
A TOXIC WORK ENVIRONMENT
Despite her firm rejections, she recounted facing continued harassment in the workplace for months, including derogatory remarks about her religion. Tausif allegedly groped and physically assaulted her on multiple occasions.
According to her allegations, both men also threatened to share her private photos on social media if she did not comply with their demands to change her faith.
In February 2026, a new development occurred