Following a complaint filed by an intern, the Hinjawadi Police have registered a case against officials of ThynkTech India OPC Pvt Ltd, including the company’s CEO, head of training and development, and HR head. The case involves allegations of cheating, criminal breach of trust and non-payment of salaries.
Police officials said CEO Harshal Thakre was detained from Nashik on Tuesday night and is being brought to Pune for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.
According to investigators, the company recruited engineering graduates for software development and training roles. Several employees alleged that they were asked to pay Rs 15,000 as a laptop security deposit during the hiring process. However, many claim they never received the laptops despite making the payment.
Employees also alleged that salaries for the last two months were not paid before the company stopped operations.
Assistant Police Inspector Sandip Vangnekar, who is leading the investigation, said statements from around 30 affected employees have been recorded so far. Police estimate that the complainants have suffered combined losses of nearly Rs 11.25 lakh, while more victims are expected to come forward.
According to employees, the company carried out large-scale recruitment drives last year and initially operated normally. Interns reportedly received stipends during the early months, but issues began surfacing in February when salary payments were delayed.
Employees claimed they were informed that an internal audit had caused the delay and were assured that payments would be cleared soon. However, the dues allegedly remained unpaid.
Police said the company was functioning from rented office premises. When rent payments were reportedly not made, the property owner locked the office, bringing operations to a halt.
One engineering graduate from Jalna said he joined the company through a campus placement drive and was promised a monthly stipend of Rs 15,000 during training, along with an annual package of Rs 5.5 lakh after confirmation. He alleged that despite paying the laptop deposit, he neither received the laptop nor the promised stipend.
Several employees said company officials regularly coordinated training sessions and work assignments until the payment issues began. After that, communication gradually reduced, and repeated attempts to contact senior management reportedly received no response.
Some former employees further alleged that the company heavily depended on employee deposits collected from new recruits. They claimed many workers never received the laptops for which they had paid and faced financial difficulties after relocating to Pune for work.
Affected employees also expressed concern about their future careers. Many freshers fear that their time spent with the company may not be recognised as valid work experience, making it harder to secure new employment opportunities.
Another trainee said he paid the Rs 15,000 deposit after receiving an offer email and clearing an online interview. Although he found the request unusual, he decided to join because many others had already accepted offers from the company. He was still undergoing training when the office suddenly closed.
Employees said that even after the office shutdown, company representatives continued sharing updates through a social media group until May 17. Since then, there has reportedly been no communication, leaving many workers waiting for salary payments and deposit refunds.
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I’m Priya Agarwal, and I write about everything related to Hinjewadi! From the latest news and events to hidden spots and local businesses, my articles are all about helping you explore and enjoy this vibrant area. Whether you live here or are just visiting, I aim to bring you useful, interesting, and up-to-date information about Hinjewadi. Stay tuned for more!
