The office environment of ThynkTech India OPC Pvt Ltd, located in a modern complex in Hinjewadi Phase 2, Pune, resembled that of a thriving tech startup. It featured a committed human resources team, a training division, and well-crafted offer letters emblazoned with the company logo. The walls showcased a vibrant array of product logos, suggesting an ambitious suite of applications, including a news service, dairy delivery, and a ride-hailing platform.
For numerous young engineering graduates from various parts of Maharashtra, such as Nashik, Yavatmal, Jalgaon, and esteemed institutions in Pune, ThynkTech appeared to be the ideal opportunity they had been seeking—until the situation took a turn for the worse.
On April 22, when employees and interns arrived at work, they were greeted with sealed doors. A notice affixed to the entrance by the property owner demanded payment for overdue rent, maintenance fees, and utility bills. Attempts to contact CEO Harshal Thakre proved futile.
Although ThynkTech India was officially based in Noida, it operated a branch in Hinjewadi, Pune, which opened in April 2025. The company swiftly made its mark on college campuses by organizing placement drives at reputable institutions affiliated with Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), including AISSMS, Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Engineering (Lavale), D Y Patil University, Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering, and ISBM College of Engineering. This presence lent the company a degree of credibility.
“We believed that if respected colleges were partnering with ThynkTech for placements, they must have conducted due diligence,” shared a 25-year-old electronics engineering graduate from Nashik who spoke to The Indian Express. “Thus, we thought it was a legitimate company.”
The company sought candidates for various technical roles, including Full Stack Developers, AI-ML Developers, Backend Developers (Spring Boot), Python Developers, Software Testers, and Flutter Developers. Successful interviewees received an offer letter for the position of ‘Associate Software Engineer and Internship Training’.
The offer included a monthly stipend of Rs 15,000 during the training phase and a confirmed salary of Rs 5.5 lakh per annum after successful completion. However, candidates were required to pay a security deposit of Rs 15,000 prior to receiving the offer letter, which would also grant them a laptop.
“The first month of advanced training was entirely unproductive,” the intern noted. “We simply sat in the office, listening to instructions. One week passed without any activity, and the following week involved practicing basic software tasks. We were asked to complete a technology stack in about ten days, but it didn’t feel like actual work.”
A significant warning sign emerged in March 2026. “They informed us that there was an issue with the third-party vendor supplying the laptops, and we needed to return ours by the end of March,” the intern explained. “They promised replacements within two to three days. About 70 to 80 percent of us returned our laptops, but we never received new ones.”
“Panic ensued,” the intern continued. “We hurried to the office, only to find it sealed. The rent notice was posted on the door.”
The notice affixed to the office door, dated April 20, originated from the property owner and cited non-payment of rent since March, as well as outstanding maintenance and electricity bills. Access to the company premises was prohibited until the debts were settled.
Permanent staff, including HR and training heads, were similarly in the dark, having not received their salaries since January. Approximately 30 interns lodged formal complaints with the Hinjewadi Police Station and the Labour Commissioner’s office.
Thakre made a brief appearance during an online meeting, where he assured employees that all outstanding payments, including security deposits, would be settled via cheque between April 27 and May 5. However, the cheques bounced, and Thakre ceased all communication.
The Hinjewadi police subsequently filed charges against Thakre, the training and development head, and the HR head under Sections 316 (criminal breach of trust) and 318 (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). On Tuesday, authorities apprehended Thakre in Nashik.
For many affected interns, the repercussions extend beyond financial loss. Numerous individuals relocated to Pune from smaller towns, enticed by the prospect of securing IT positions in a city dubbed the state’s ‘Silicon Valley’.
“We were promised course completion certificates, but those never materialized either,” he added. “Now, I worry that if I include ThynkTech on my resume, will any employer even consider me? This brief stint cannot be counted, and we are left with nothing.”
At present, he is subsisting on savings from a previous position, spending his days applying to companies and seeking new job opportunities.
Shubham Kurale is a journalist based in Pune with a background in journalism from the Ranade Institute. He primarily reports on transportation and has interests in civic issues, sports, gig economy workers, environmental matters, and LGBTQ+ topics. You can follow him on X:@ShubhamKurale1.
Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been part of the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is an experienced journalist with a wealth of expertise.
