NEW DELHI: A viral photo of a Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) employee sleeping on a footpath outside the company's Pune office has sparked widespread outrage on social media, prompting the IT giant to issue an official clarification.As per a social media post shared by the Forum of IT Employees (TITE), the employee, identified as Sourabh More, claimed he was forced to live on the street after TCS withheld his salary, despite his repeated pleas to the HR department. In a handwritten letter placed beside him on the pavement, More wrote:"I have informed HR I don't have money and will be forced to sleep and live outside TCS on the footpath."

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According to a summary shared by FITE on 'X', More reported back to TCS's Sahyadri Park campus in Pune on July 29, 2025, but found his employee ID inactive and his salary unpaid. Despite informing HR during a meeting on July 30, the issue allegedly remained unresolved.The image of More sleeping outside the tech park quickly went viral.

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With the post, the FITE also issued a solidarity message, stating:“His courage to raise his voice in such dire conditions is commendable. While protest is a powerful message, we also urge such cases to be reported to the Labour Office for formal redress.”TCS responds: ‘Case of Unauthorized Absence’In response to the viral incident and media coverage, TCS issued an official statement, asserting that the issue stemmed from unauthorized absence and was handled as per internal protocols:“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.”The company emphasised that after More’s return, he was offered support and temporary lodging, and efforts are underway to resolve the situation appropriately.