Nashik, Apr 10 (PTI) Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan on Friday said that a special investigation team is probing into the allegations of religious conversion and sexual harassment at a multinational company (MNC) in Nashik, stressing that stringent punishment will be handed to those found responsible.
Speaking to reporters, Mahajan warned of a larger conspiracy and stated that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered the police to look into the neighbouring corporate hubs to identify similar patterns.
Eight women employees of the MNC lodged complaints alleging mental and sexual harassment.
The police have arrested seven people, including the company’s woman HR manager, who was produced in court on Friday and was remanded to police custody till April 13. Six accused who were arrested earlier were sent to 14-day judicial custody.
The minister alleged that the victims had been forced to offer namaz, eat beef, and that attempts had been made to convert them.
“Some senior employees, including women, did not take any action despite complaints. A case has been filed against them. The inquiry is underway. I think the involvement of some more people will also come to light in this,” he said.
He further claimed that the women might have been victims of a racket involved in luring girls with a promise of jobs and later blackmailing them with their photographs and videos.
An SIT is probing into the case, and CM Fadnavis is monitoring the development, he said.
Meanwhile, activists from the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the BJP, staged a sit-in agitation in front of the MNC office on Friday.
According to the police, the incidents of sexual harassment have allegedly taken place since July 2022. PTI COR ARU
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