8 IT company employees allege sexual harassment, 6 held; some gestures common in MNCs, says HR

NASHIK: The Nashik police have arrested six employees of an IT company, one of them on the charge of sexual exploitation of an office colleague under a breach of marriage promise, and the remaining five on charges of sexual harassment and hurting religious sentiments of their other women colleagues at different points in time over the last four years.

Police said the IT company in Nashik has a workforce of nearly 300 employees and the arrested men are mostly team leaders.

Total nine cases have been registered, including eight by the women colleagues alleging sexual offences and hurting religious sentiments.





The ninth complaint is lodged by a male colleague related to hurting religious sentiments, police added.

Nashik's assistant commissioner of police (Crime) Sandeep Mitke told TOI, "An HR official of the IT company has been named suspect in one these cases as the complainant stated that she had sent him an email, reporting the harassment at workplace by the team leaders concerned but the HR official advised her to ‘stay cool as some gestures were common in MNCs'. The HR official has not been arrested so far."

Police said the complainant in the rape case said in her complaint that the suspect despite being married forced her into physical relationship by lying that he would marry her. The complainant alleged that she was sexually exploited at regular intervals by the suspect at a place on Trimbak Road. On his insistence, his associate also started sexually harassing her in the lobby and pantry of their office by telling the complainant that he knew about her affair, the complainant alleged.

Nashik Commissioner of Police Sandeep Karnik toldTOI, "We are taking serious cognisance of the alleged sexual offences against these women. As part of the same, we have formed a special investigation team (SIT) under an officer of the rank of ACP to investigate all these cases."

Karnik said, "Women facing sexual harassment at workplace in any organisation in the city should fearlessly approach Nashik city police. Strict action will be taken against the offenders."

On Wednesday,TOIsent an email to the IT major seeking its response on the matter. However, there was no response till the time of going to press.

The first of the nine cases involving the rape charge was registered with the Devlali police station on March 26 and the remaining eight were registered subsequently in phases with the Mumbai Naka police station.

ACP Mitke, who is heading the SIT, said, "The complainant in the rape case told police that other women staffers were facing sexual and mental harassment and comments hurting their religious sentiments following which the police contacted these women and counseled them into registering their complaints."



The suspect in the rape case has been sent to Nashik Road Central Prison under judicial custody following his interrogation in police custody, the police said. The remaining five are in police custody till April 10.Get real-time updates and result insights on the CBSE 12 Result 2026.