Pune: Catalyst Services Solutions Partners, a company managing canteens and employee catering services across India, has accused several former employees, including senior officials, of stealing confidential data and violating their non-disclosure agreements (NDA). The stolen information is alleged to have been used to benefit a rival company, causing significant financial losses to Catalyst Services.
According to a complaint filed by Sachin Shivajirao Desai, the company’s Chief Human Resource Officer, at Chatuhshrungi Police Station, the data theft involved Chief Growth Officer Sushobhan Sarkar and other employees who resigned between April and November 2023. The accused reportedly transferred sensitive information to Axon Corporate Services India, a rival firm based in Malad, Mumbai, where Sarkar joined after resigning.
A Series of Resignations Raises Red Flags
The chain of events began on April 28, 2023, when Sarkar abruptly resigned via email. Shortly after, General Manager Yogesh Dudhani and other officials, including Manish Jirgale, Shashank Gupte, and Amol Gurjar, also resigned.
Lalit Malpe from the administration and insurance department attempted to resign as well. However, due to evidence of financial fraud by Malpe, the company refused to accept his resignation.
The company had provided laptops to these employees during their employment, which were returned upon their resignations. Suspicion about illegal activities prompted the company to send the laptops for forensic analysis to McGrath Forensic Examination experts.
Forensic Report Confirms Data Theft
The forensic investigation revealed that while employed at Catalyst Services, Lalit Malpe and Manish Jirgale gathered confidential data and shared it with Sarkar, who had joined Axon Corporate Services.
Sarkar, in turn, transferred sensitive data, including agreements, business strategies, product branding materials, and financial details, from the company’s official email system to his personal Apple Cloud storage.
The breach of the NDA and the unauthorized transfer of data reportedly helped Axon Corporate Services in administrative operations, leading to financial losses for Catalyst Services. Police have registered a case against Sarkar under relevant sections of the law. Inspector Swapnil Shinde is leading the investigation.