TV
A week ago, passersby spotted a man sleeping on the pavement outside the gates of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Pune’s Hinjewadi IT Park. The man used his backpack for a pillow, a thin bedsheet between him and the hard concrete. Surprisingly, he placed a letter beside him on the footpath that unfolded an ongoing salary dispute at India’s largest IT services firm.
Techie's Unique Protest Over Unpaid Salary
The man is a junior software engineer employed at TCS and was identified by colleagues as Saurabh More. In his handwritten note, Saurabh stated that he hasn’t been paid for over 4 months.
His handwritten letter read, "I have reported back to TCS Sahyadri Park Pune Office on July 29, 2025, and still my ID is not active on Ultimatix and TCS systems, and I haven’t received my salary, which was confirmed at the 30th July 2025 meeting. HR had said someday I would get paid by July 31, but that did not happen. I’ve informed HR that I don’t have money and will be forced to sleep and live outside TCS on the footpath. HR has not responded to that and kept quiet. Hence, I have been living on the footpath since July 29 in front of TCS.” (sic)
The post was shared on Instagram by BeingPunekar Official, and the images have gone viral on social media sparking outrage.
Several IT workers and union representatives claimed similar cases of delayed salaries have surfaced during cost-cutting drives, particularly affecting freshers and employees on probation.
TCS Responds After Viral Backlash
Following the uproar, TCS issued an official statement confirming the incident but presenting a different account.
According to a report by Hindustan Times, the company said More had been on unauthorised absence, and as per company policy, payroll was suspended during that period.
HT.com quoted a TCS spokesperson as saying, “This is a case of unauthorised absence where the employee has been absent from office. In accordance with standard procedure, payroll was suspended during this period. The employee has now reported back and requested reinstatement. We have provided him accommodation for now and are supporting him in addressing his situation in a fair and constructive manner." (sic)
