Piramal Tower Case: Obscene Content Row Deepens After Controversial Statement

Mumbai: Questions have once again arisen regarding the safety of women in the corporate world in Maharashtra. The heat of the harassment case in Nashik's TCS BPO unit had not yet cooled down when a serious case of sending obscene messages and videos to female colleagues came to light from a big corporate company located in Piramal Tower, Mumbai. On the complaint of the victim, Agripada police showed promptness and arrested the accused Ashraf Siddiqui.

What is the whole matter?

The matter came to light when the victim, who worked as a third party telecaller in a company located in Piramal Tower, lodged a police complaint. According to the victim, Ashraf also worked in the same company. After leaving the job, the accused obtained the numbers of the victim and three to four of her other Hindu female colleagues and started harassing them. 

Under which sections was the case registered?

A case has been registered against the accused at Agripada police station under sections 75, 78(2) and 70 of the Indian Code of Justice (BNS) as well as the Information Technology Act, 2000. These sections relate to sexual harassment, stalking and sending obscene material of women.

What was the disgusting manner of the accused?

According to the police, the accused not only repeatedly sent messages to the victim offering her sexual relations but also sent obscene photographs using derogatory language about her female colleagues.

What was the accused's reply?

The victim revealed in her statement that when she tried to stop the accused and referred to her religious identity, Ashraf replied that nowadays Hindu girls like Muslims. This statement of the victim has given a new and sensitive dimension to the entire matter.

What is the condition of political mercury?

After this incident the political atmosphere in Mumbai has become heated. BJP and many Hindu organizations had put pressure on the police to take action. These organizations have demanded a SIT investigation into the matter so that it can be known whether any big network is working behind it or not. 

What is the connection with Nashik TCS case?

This incident has come to light at a time when the case of targeting of Hindu women in TCS BPO unit of Nashik is being investigated by the SIT as well as the TCS management. In that case, the police have arrested many accused including Shahrukh Qureshi, Raza Memon, Asif Ansari, Tausif Attar, Shafi Shaikh and Ashwini Chanani. The simultaneous emergence of both Panchjanya cases has raised serious questions over the safety of women on corporate premises in Maharashtra and the mechanism to prevent workplace harassment. At present the police are busy getting to the bottom of the matter.

What will happen next now?

Agripada police will now present the accused Ashraf in the court after conducting his medical test. Police may seek his remand so that his mobile data and other contacts can be examined to find out how many more women he has harassed.