TCS Nashik Case – Court Grants Bail to Employee Nida Khan
TCS Nashik Case – A Nashik court on Monday granted bail to TCS employee Nida Khan in one of the cases linked to allegations of sexual harassment and religious coercion at the company’s Nashik unit. However, the court declined bail to co-accused Danish Shaikh, observing that the allegations against him were serious.
Court cites concerns while rejecting Shaikh’s bail plea
Additional Sessions Judge K G Joshi of the Nashik Road court said the nature of the accusations against Shaikh required caution at this stage. In the bail order, the court noted the possibility of evidence being influenced, witnesses being threatened or emotionally pressured, and the accused avoiding the legal process.
The court said these concerns could not be ignored while considering his request for bail. A detailed order explaining the grounds for granting bail to Khan was not immediately available. Another accused, Tausif Akhtar, was also granted bail in the matter.
Khan was arrested after nearly 25 days
Khan was arrested on May 7 from a rented flat in the Naregaon area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Police teams from multiple agencies reportedly carried out the operation after she remained untraceable for several days.
The case emerged after complaints were filed by junior women employees working at the TCS facility in Nashik. Khan’s lawyer Rahul Kasliwal sought bail on the grounds that she is pregnant.
Prosecution opposes relief for the accused
Public prosecutor Vijay Gaikwad, along with lawyers Milind Kurkute and Nitin Pandit representing one of the complainants, opposed the bail applications filed by Khan and Shaikh.
The prosecution told the court that the investigation had produced material indicating allegations of sexual exploitation and pressure related to religious conversion. It alleged that Shaikh had given an Islamic religious book and a burqa to the complainant as part of an attempt to influence her religious beliefs.
According to the prosecution, the circumstances indicated that the complainant was deliberately exploited and subjected to efforts aimed at changing her religion. The allegations remain under investigation, and the accused have not been convicted.
FIR includes sexual harassment and atrocity law provisions
The case is based on an FIR registered at Deolali Camp police station. It includes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to sexual intercourse through alleged deceitful means, sexual harassment, and acts intended to hurt religious sentiments.
The accused have also been booked under provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act because the complainant belongs to the Dalit community.
As per the FIR, the alleged incidents took place between July 2022 and February 2026. Shaikh, Akhtar and Khan are accused of making offensive comments about Hindu deities and hurting the complainant’s religious sentiments.
Complaint details allegations of coercion and workplace misconduct
The complaint alleges that Shaikh gained the woman’s confidence by making false promises of marriage before entering into a physical relationship with her. Akhtar has been accused of inappropriate touching in the office lobby and pantry area.
The FIR also alleges that the accused used caste-based remarks against the complainant. Police are examining claims that the woman was pressured to convert her religion through threats and offensive comments.
Investigators are also looking into allegations that the accused discussed changing the complainant’s name and collected her documents for that purpose. Shaikh and Akhtar are further accused of planning to send her to a person identified as Imran in Malaysia.
SIT investigates multiple complaints linked to TCS unit
A Special Investigation Team formed by Nashik police is examining nine cases connected with alleged sexual exploitation, attempted forced conversion, molestation, mental harassment and religious offences involving women employees at the TCS office.
Following the allegations, TCS said it has maintained a zero-tolerance approach towards harassment and coercion. The company stated that employees accused of sexual harassment at its Nashik office had been suspended while the matter is investigated.