“Systematic Plan” Alleged: Nashik Court Denies Bail to TCS Staffer Nida Khan

A Nashik court has r ejected the pre-arrest bail plea of TCS employee Nida Khan in a case involving allegations of sexual harassment, coercion, and attempted religious conversion, observing that there appears to be a “systematic plan” to influence and “brainwash” the victim.

Additional Sessions Judge K G Joshi, in a reasoned order, described the case as “multi-dimensional and multi-layered” , and said custodial interrogation was necessary to uncover the full extent of the alleged offences. The court held that Khan’s plea was “devoid of merits” , adding that granting anticipatory bail could interfere with the ongoing investigation.

According to the prosecution, Khan and two co-accused colleagues at TCS’s Nashik unit allegedly pressured a woman employee to follow Islamic practices, provided her with religious material, and sought to change her name to “Haniya.” They also allegedly planned to send her to Malaysia. The FIR includes charges of sexual harassment, molestation, caste-based humiliation, and forcing religious practices.

The court observed that while individuals have the constitutional right to choose their religion and identity, organised coercion or influence over such choices cannot be justified .

Police have launched a search for Khan, while two co-accused are already under investigation. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is probing multiple related cases, with eight arrests made so far in connection with alleged harassment and coercion at the TCS Nashik office.

TCS has stated it follows a zero-tolerance policy against harassment and has suspended the employees named in the case.