Nashik courts reject anticipatory bail of prime accused Nida Khan in Tata Consultancy Services BPO for religious coercion case on Saturday.
On Saturday, May 2, a sessions court in Nashik rejected pre-arrest bail to 26-year-old prime accused – Nida Khan in the sexual harassment, violence and religious coercion TCS case. The court observed the allegations as a “serious offence”; public prosecutor Ajay Misar stated that custodial interrogation was “necessary.”
Khan is among the 8 accused named in the case linked to TCS BPO, where 9 FIRs have been filed between March 26 and April 3, 2026, at the Devlali police station. In the process, the eight accused had also been arrested while the prime accused appealed court for anticipatory bail.
9 FIRs, 7 arrested and chats under probe
Alleging harassment and misconduct at the workplace, 9 FIRs were filed by employees of TCS-linked BPO, police said.
Mobile phones and electronic devices are seized under investigation, analysing WhatsApp chats, messages and digital records as part of it for collecting crucial evidence. Police state these materials as important for establishing the sequence of events.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed and is now in charge of further probe into the case.
Allegations include harassment and religious coercion
According to the FIRs in the TCS Nashik religious coercion case, the accused have been charged with:
- Sexual assault/harassment
- Sending obscene messages
- Making objectionable remarks about religion
- Acts intended to outrage the modesty of complainants
Defending Nida Khan’s anticipatory bail plea, the prosecution informed the court that the “crucial leads” have been found against her and her custodial interrogation is necessary for further probe.
In one of the complaints, a woman alleged that Nida Khan hurt her religious sentiments and tried to pressure her into converting. The complainant also stated that Khan changed her identity to ‘Haniya’, promised to help her to get a job in Malaysia, and constantly persuaded her to convert her religion.
The prosecution further added, saying Khan allegedly warned victims that refusing to convert would bring misfortune to their families.
Khan also reportedly taught the complainant to perform namaz, helped her wear a hijab, and downloaded religious applications on her mobile device, according to the Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Multiple Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) provisions are invoked, including sections in the matter of sexual harassment, insulting modesty and hurting religious sentiment.
The prosecution submitted that the complaints indicate a pattern of misconduct within the workplace.
Defence claims ‘false implication’, cites pregnancy
Khan stated she has been “falsely implicated” and has no prior criminal record in her plea.
Her family mentioned in the court that Khan is pregnant and seeking relief on humanitarian grounds. They also stated that she is in Mumbai, not trying to abscond.
However, the court rejected all these arguments, saying that the severity of the allegations is more than the grounds for anticipatory bail at this stage.
TCS suspends accused employees
As per police confirmation, 7 accused have been arrested, and Nida, the eighth prime accused, has appealed for bail.
TCS, in response to it, have suspended all accused employees and initiated an internal inquiry, also cooperating with the ongoing police probe.
Officials said further questioning and evidence collection are underway.
Case timeline under Probe
Police said the allegations culminated in FIRs filed between late March and early April 2026. The case has since evolved into a multi-FIR criminal investigation, with authorities examining whether there was a sustained pattern of harassment over time.
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