A widening investigation in Nashik involving IT services major Tata Consultancy Services has raised concerns over how new employees may have been selectively approached based on their personal and financial circumstances.

According to police sources, the focus of the probe is now shifting towards claims that certain people within the organisation like senior staff or HR managers, may have been assessing new joinees shortly after onboarding. The alleged approach, investigators say, involved identifying employees who appeared to be under financial stress, dealing with personal challenges, or lacking strong support systems.

Officials familiar with the inquiry suggest that these people were then gradually engaged through repeated interactions in a professional setting, which later extended into more personal conversations. Over time, investigators believe this created a pattern where boundaries between workplace mentoring and personal influence became blurred.

The investigation also looks into allegations that sensitive discussions during training sessions may have contributed to emotional discomfort among some employees. In certain cases, complainants claim that this was followed by closer personal engagement initiated by senior staff members, including HR personnel, who positioned themselves as support figures.

One complainant reportedly told investigators that sustained interaction led to significant changes in personal behaviour and strained family relationships. Authorities, however, have clarified that these accounts are part of the ongoing inquiry and are yet to be independently established as fact.

A key development in the case is an internal messaging group, which investigators believe may have been used to share observations about employees and coordinate communication among those under scrutiny. Police are now analysing digital records to determine the nature and intent of these exchanges.

Seven people have been detained so far in connection with the case, including members linked to training and administrative roles, according to officials.

To gather evidence discreetly, law enforcement reportedly conducted an undercover operation inside the workplace, deploying officers in civilian roles to observe activities without alerting those under investigation.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is also examining additional allegations that have surfaced during the inquiry, including claims of inappropriate conduct. Officials say the probe is still at an early stage and multiple angles are being reviewed.

For now, investigators are focusing on reconstructing the sequence of interactions and verifying whether there was any organised pattern behind employee engagement practices.