Crisis in Hinjewadi: Over 700 Left Jobless After Pune IT Firm Shuts Abruptly; CEO Arrested for Fraud
Over 700 employees and interns lost their jobs suddenly. They were not paid their salaries or benefits. This happened after an IT company named Thynk Tech India closed down abruptly. The company operated in Hinjewadi, which is a tech hub in Pune.
Many stranded employees complained to the police. Following these complaints, the Hinjewadi police arrested the company’s CEO, Harshal Thakare. He was also the Head of Training and Development. The police are also investigating an HR manager.
A 25-year-old intern started the complaints, and dozens of other staff members supported it. The company is based in Noida. It is accused of cheating and breaking the trust of its workers.
Freshers and interns did not receive their salaries for one to three months. The management also forced employees to pay 15,000 rupees each. They claimed this money was a security deposit for office laptops.
The Forum for IT Employees (FITE) shared more details. The company started its Pune office last year and paid workers initially. However, all payments stopped completely in January. The management repeatedly gave fake dates to delay the payments.
The employees discovered the company’s financial collapse on April 22. They arrived at the office and found the doors legally sealed. The property owner had put up a notice because the company did not pay rent and maintenance charges.
Thynk Tech targeted fresh engineering graduates. The company joined placement drives at respected engineering colleges in Yavatmal, Jalgaon, and Nashik. This college backing made the company look trustworthy. Students assumed their colleges had checked the company’s background before letting them recruit.
The Hinjewadi police have registered an official case against the owners with help from FITE. The owners face charges of cheating and criminal breach of trust. Investigators are now checking the company’s bank accounts and money transfers to find the total amount of the fraud.
