Seven arrested in Nashik IT firm case; SIT formed after nine FIRs and covert police operation

Nashik Police have arrested seven individuals in connection with a serious workplace sexual harassment and misconduct case at a multinational information technology and business process outsourcing company in Nashik, Maharashtra, following a covert police operation inside the company premises and the registration of nine First Information Reports covering a period from July 2022 to early 2026. At least eight women and one male employee are among the complainants.

Six of those arrested were employed as team leaders at the company, which reportedly employs around 300 people. The seventh arrest was that of the company’s Human Resources official, Ashwini Ashok Chainani, apprehended from Pune’s Loola Nagar after an initial investigation concluded that formal complaints submitted by victims had not been acted upon. Chainani’s case was registered under Crime Registration Number 163/2026 pursuant to Sections 75, 78, 79, 49, 356, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita. Police are interrogating Chainani regarding alleged suppression of ongoing harassment complaints within the corporate office.

Of the six team leaders arrested, one accused facing a rape allegation was remanded to Nashik Road Central Prison under judicial custody, while the remaining five were placed in police custody until April 10, 2026. Police stated that further arrests are likely as the investigation progresses.

What allegations have employees made in the nine FIRs filed in the Nashik IT and BPO company case?

The nine First Information Reports filed at the Mumbai Naka Police Station describe repeated and systematic misconduct over nearly four years. Eight of the nine cases were filed by women employees, while the ninth was lodged by a male colleague on charges of hurting religious sentiments. Complaints from women employees describe inappropriate touching, sexually coloured remarks, obscene comments about the complainants’ bodies and clothing, coercion, and exploitation under false promises of marriage. At least one complainant alleged that an accused had forced a physical relationship by promising to marry her. Victims also alleged they were stalked, insulted during workplace meetings, and threatened with consequences if they approached the police.

Preliminary police findings indicated that the accused allegedly targeted young women employees aged between 18 and 25, deliberately identifying those who appeared to be facing financial difficulty during the recruitment process by gathering information about their family background and household income.

How did the Nashik police undercover operation inside the IT firm lead to arrests in the harassment case?

A covert operation proved central to advancing the arrests. Seven women police officers entered the company premises in disguise, attended a meeting inside the office, and reportedly observed inappropriate behaviour by one of the accused toward female employees. Police officials described the accused as having been caught in the act during this undercover operation. The operation provided corroborating evidence alongside the registered complaints and is expected to form a key part of the prosecution’s case. Nashik Police are additionally examining over 40 closed-circuit television footage clips recovered from within the office premises.

A Special Investigation Team has been constituted under the instructions of Nashik Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik and is led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sandeep Mitke. The Special Investigation Team is conducting a dual-track investigation, examining the individual FIRs and also probing whether the alleged misconduct formed part of a wider organised racket operating within the company. A dedicated WhatsApp helpline number has been issued by police for other potential victims to come forward.

Why was the Nashik IT company HR official arrested for inaction under the POSH Act in the sexual harassment case?

Multiple complainants stated that they had previously lodged formal complaints with the company’s Human Resources department under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, also known as the POSH Act, but alleged that no action was taken. The POSH Act mandates that every employer with 10 or more employees must constitute an Internal Committee to receive and address workplace sexual harassment complaints in a time-bound manner. The arrest of an HR official for alleged systemic inaction on POSH Act complaints, rather than for direct harassment, is an uncommon development in Indian workplace misconduct proceedings and signals an enforcement posture that extends accountability beyond individual perpetrators to institutional gatekeepers.

What are the religious harassment allegations made by the male complainant in the Nashik IT company case?

The male complainant alleged that colleagues made derogatory remarks about Hindu deities, pressured him to consume beef and mutton against his will, and that he was taken to Mumbai for a procedure linked to religious conversion. The complainant further alleged that colleagues applied sustained pressure on him to adopt religious practices associated with another faith.

How have Maharashtra’s state government and Nashik BJP responded to the IT firm harassment case?

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the state home minister portfolio in the Maharashtra government, described the incident as very serious and ordered a formal probe. Fadnavis praised Nashik Police for acting swiftly in uncovering the case and stated that strict action would be taken against all those found guilty. The Bharatiya Janata Party staged a protest outside the company’s Nashik office. Nashik BJP City President Sunil Kedar stated that a large racket was operating within the company and demanded strict action against the management in addition to the directly accused individuals. Kedar further stated that Fadnavis had personally assured that no person implicated would be spared, including the management and the company. State minister Nitesh Rane stated that approximately 15 victims may have submitted complaints and questioned why the company’s Human Resources department had failed to act.

Advocate Baba Syed, representing some of the accused, stated that the allegations may stem from misunderstandings arising in a shared office environment and that the full facts of the case would emerge after a complete review of the First Information Reports.

The case has raised institutional questions about the adequacy of Internal Committee mechanisms within India’s information technology and business process outsourcing sector, the accountability of Human Resources professionals under the POSH Act, and the vulnerability of junior employees, particularly young women in entry-level positions, in large corporate environments. The investigation remains active, and police have confirmed that further arrests or charges may follow based on evidence collected.

What does the Nashik IT and BPO company sexual harassment case mean for workplace safety law, POSH Act enforcement, and corporate accountability in Maharashtra?

• Nashik Police have arrested seven individuals, including six team leaders and one Human Resources official, following nine First Information Reports filed at the Mumbai Naka Police Station covering alleged sexual harassment and misconduct from July 2022 to early 2026.
• The arrest of Human Resources official Ashwini Ashok Chainani for alleged inaction on formal POSH Act complaints marks an uncommon application of institutional accountability provisions in an Indian workplace misconduct case.
• A Special Investigation Team constituted by Nashik Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik and led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sandeep Mitke is probing both the individual FIRs and the possibility of a wider organised racket within the company.
• Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, also holding the state home ministry portfolio, has personally ordered a probe and stated that strict action will be taken against all those found guilty, including management.
• Nashik Police have issued a WhatsApp helpline for additional victims and stated that further arrests remain possible as the investigation continues.