Nashik, April 19 -- Internal professional rivalry and office politics are the motive for the "false" sexual harassment and conversion allegations levelled against TCS employee Raza Rafiq Memon, his family said here on Sunday, describing him as a "high performer".

Speaking to news agency, Memon's uncle Ayaz Kazi said the case was part of a coordinated "conspiracy" spurred by Memon's academic and professional performance.

Memon, currently in police custody till April 20, is among eight persons arrested after allegations of sexual harassment and pressure to convert emerged at a unit of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Nashik.

He led the team that included both the complainant and prime accused Danish Shaikh.

Memon's family said the primary allegations are against Shaikh, and if he is guilty, then he must not be spared.

"However, the allegation against my nephew may be part of a coordinated conspiracy driven by academic and professional performance," Kazi said. Memon hails from a humble background and topped an internal exam at the firm last year, which could have triggered jealousy among the other colleagues, the uncle said.

"He became a topper, and that didn't sit well with others in the company. This looks like a frame-up born out of office politics," he said.

Kazi described his nephew as "helpful," citing chats between the complainants and Memon that he said show he allowed them to leave early for their personal reasons.

Memon always obliged and would coordinate with the other team members, he said.

"As a team leader, his focus was strictly on sales targets and team productivity. There was no indication of any inappropriate interaction outside of these professional requests," he added.

Memon's family members also made claims of communal discrimination in the case against him. Kazi claimed that the people above Memon in the hierarchy were from different faiths, yet no action had been taken against them.

He said that Memon's inclusion in the matter is a "planned conspiracy" to derail the careers of high-performing employees.

A family member of another accused called him innocent. He has been "framed" because he used to hang out with Danish, the relative said. "He is a practising person and could not have done such a thing," the family member said.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.