A court on Saturday refused anticipatory bail to Nida Khan, an accused in a sexual exploitation and religious coercion case linked to Tata Consultancy Services (BPO) in Nashik.
Public Prosecutor Ajay Misar said that the court, referring to her crime as “serious”, emphasized that Nida Khan was one of the main accused in the case, deeming her custodial interrogation “essential”.
“The court rejected Nida Khan’s bail application today. The final order will be uploaded soon,” news agency PTI quoted Public Prosecutor Ajay Misar as saying. Khan had cited her pregnancy while seeking bail before her arrest. It is being searched for in different parts of Maharashtra.
Read also | ‘Pregnant’, ‘not HR’: What Nida Khan’s family said in Nashik BPO case
Meanwhile, police custody of four other accused in the case, namely Raza Rafiq Memon (35), Tauseef Bilal Attar (37), Denmark Ejaz Sheikh (32) and Shahrukh Hussain Shaukat Qureshi (34), has been extended until May 5. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Nashik Police has arrested eight people in the case so far, including an operations manager, and nine FIRs have been registered in the matter.
What are the charges against Khan?
Investigating agencies had earlier opposed Nida Khan’s anticipatory bail application, saying they had unearthed crucial leads in the case and argued that her interrogation was necessary for further investigation.
In one complaint, a woman accused Khan of hurting her religious feelings. The prosecution argued in court that the complainant alleged that Khan changed her name to “Haniya” and promised to get her a job in Malaysia while continuing to persuade the complainant to change her religion, according to an earlier HT report.
The prosecution further alleged that Khan warned the complainant that if she did not convert, it would bring misfortune to her family. Khan also allegedly trained the complainant on how to perform prayers and wear the hijab at her home, and installed Islamic apps on her phone, according to the Special Investigation Team.
Read also | Nashik ‘escape mastermind’ Nida Khan suspended from TCS: What’s in the suspension letter?
What is known about Nida Khan?
Nida’s father had earlier said that she was in Mumbai, adding that she was pregnant and expecting her first child. Nida got married last year and moved to Mumbai to stay with her husband.
Contrary to reports initially circulating on television and social media, her family said, Khan was not working in the human resources department of the BPO, and was working as a telephone caller in the sales team, according to an earlier HT report.
