TCS Nashik case: No interim relief till April 27 to accused Nida Khan

The complainant’s lawyer has filed an application seeking time to submit their written response, which the court allowed, granting time till April 27.

Nida Khan, an accused in the TCS religious conversion and sexual harassment case alleged by some women colleagues, was denied interim relief till April 27. Her counsel had moved an application seeking interim protection pending the hearing of her anticipatory bail plea.

Meanwhile, the complainant’s lawyer filed an application seeking time to submit their written response, which the court allowed, granting time till April 27. The court will now hear both the anticipatory bail application and the interim relief plea on April 27.

Meanwhile, a woman engineer at a Nashik unit of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has revealed harrowing detail of the alleged harassment and religious coercion she faced at the office of the IT major.

In a chilling statement, which is part of one of nine FIRs, the complainant alleged that her harassers justified violence against women as a consequence of not wearing burqas and made derogatory remarks about Hindu deities.

Khan is accused of targeting employees in a WhatsApp group, pressuring them to pray and eat non-vegetarian food.

According to the FIR, Khan allegedly advised women employees to dress and behave in accordance with Islamic traditions.

Some victims have also alleged that they were coerced or pressured into adopting religious practices, including praying, changing dietary habits, and adopting religious symbols.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Nashik police, which is probing nine cases of molestation and harassment at the IT major's Nashik unit, has launched a search for Khan in different parts of Maharashtra.

The SIT has arrested eight persons, including a female operations manager, by registering nine FIRs after allegations of exploitation, attempt of forceful conversion, hurting religious sentiments, molestation and mental harassment of female employees at the TCS unit came to light.

(With PTI inputs)