A Nashik court on Monday refused to grant interim anticipatory bail to 26-year-old Nida Khan, one of eight employees of a BPO linked to Tata Consultancy Services who are accused in the case of sexual assault, harassment and religious coercion at the workplace.
Additional Sessions Court Judge KG Joshi has issued notices to the Investigating Officer (IO) and the complainant’s lawyer Milind Korkut, seeking written submissions by April 27, when the anticipatory bail application will be heard, said Kiran Bandbhar, public prosecutor on behalf of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case.
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“The IO and Korkut should raise their stand before the court on the anticipatory bail application filed by Nida,” Pandebhar said. “The case is sensitive, and the complainant is suffering from physical and mental trauma.”
During the hearing, Korkut urged the court not to grant Khan interim relief without considering their requests, stressing that the complainant would like to file a written objection to the interim petition. After the court refused to grant interim protection, Bandebhar said the police were now free to arrest Khan.
Khan’s lawyers – Rahul Kasliwal and Baba Syed – are seeking her temporary protection from arrest until the court decides on the anticipatory bail application she filed on Saturday.
The defense requested temporary relief on health grounds, noting that Khan was pregnant. He added that Khan was not on the run.
Al-Sayed told the court that Khan would not surrender before his next hearing, scheduled for April 27. However, the court chose not to issue an interim order and instead directed the Nashik police and the complainant to file their formal responses to its application.
The SIT has so far arrested seven employees of the BPO, including the Director of Operations, by registering nine FIRs on allegations of exploitation, attempted forced conversion, sexual harassment and mental harassment of female employees at the centre.
