TCS Nashik case: Nida Khan remanded to police custody till May 11

TCS employee Nida Ejaz Khan was on Friday remanded to police custody till May 11 after her anticipatory bail in the sexual and religious harassment case was rejected by a Nashik court. [Nida Khan v. State of Maharashtra & Anr.].

Khan was arrested from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar after a sessions judge rejected her plea for anticipatory bail on May 2. The sessions judge had observed that the allegations against her form part of a systemic, organised attempt to “brainwash” a Dalit colleague and push her towards religious conversion.

She was produced before the additional court at Nashik road on Friday where the prosecution requested for her police custody.

The case concerns allegations that several accused persons sexually harassed women employees at TCS and attempted religious conversion. Eight persons (six men and two women) including an operations manager have been named in multiple FIRs registered at Deolali and Mumbai Naka police stations.

The complaints include allegations of sexual harassment, outraging religious sentiments, threats, public humiliation, and adverse workplace reports, as well as sexually coloured remarks directed at women employees.

Nida Khan was the last person to be arrested in the case. The allegations against her include making derogatory references to Hindu deities.

Khan filed the anticipatory bail through advocates Rahul Kasliwal and Baba Sayyad seeking protection from arrest on grounds including her pregnancy and delay in lodging the FIR.