Rohan Umak
Nagpur workplace misconduct: As new revelations continue coming to the fore in the TCS Nashik religious conversion and workplace harassment row, a similar case has surfaced on Monday from Maharashtra’s Nagpur city. The police have arrested the director of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) after female employees attached to the workplace levelled allegations of coercive religious practices and sexual harassment by him.
The accused, identified as Mohammed Riyaz Mohammed Fazil Qazi is the head of the NGO named ‘Universal Multipurpose Society,’ which has been operating since 2010. The NGO claims to work for the welfare of underprivileged kids living in slum areas. Police said the accused was arrested on Sunday after they were approached by four female employees in connection with the misconduct.
Female employees summoned to cabin, mounted pressure to perform Namaz, Duas
According to police, the complainant women have accused Qazi of engaging in inappropriate behaviour, such as molestation and psychological harassment. One woman aged 23 claimed that Qazi repeatedly used to summon her to his cabin, where he engaged in obscene conduct with her. She added to the allegations, claiming that CCTV cameras were deliberately switched off during such incidents, to erase digital evidence.
The case took a shocking turn when all the women alleged being subjected to sustained pressure to conform to specific religious practices. These included offering Namaz (Prayers in Muslim community), observing Roza (fast during Ramadan) and reciting duas (Supplications). They further claimed that they were instructed to recite particular religious greetings like ’Khuda Hafiz’, and were discouraged from practising their own traditions.
Nagpur workplace misconduct: Accused kept vigilance on females though social media
The escalations did not end here, but took a leap, as the complainants said the accused used to monitor their personal activities through fake social media accounts. They said the psychological strain compelled some employees to resign from the workplace.
Nagpur’s Police inspector Harish Kalsekar said that one former employee’s family was also drawn into the matter. He said, “In one instance, the accused contacted the mother of a former employee and made derogatory remarks, including unfounded claims about the character of other employees.”
Qazi booked, probe continues
Following the complaints, the city’s Mankapur Police have registered a case against Qazi on charges of sexual harassment, stalking and outraging a woman’s modesty. The cops clarified that as of now, they have not found any direct evidence of forced religious conversion. To ascertain the same, they have seized Qazi’s cell phone and have launched a probe into the NGO’s operations, including its funding sources.
Further developments are expected to emerge in the case in the coming days.
