Investigating agencies have made fresh findings in the alleged sexual exploitation and religious coercion case linked to Tata Consultancy Services BPO in Nashik while opposing the anticipatory bail plea of Nida Khan, one of the main accused who remains untraceable.
Special Public Prosecutor Ajay Misar told a Nashik court during a closed hearing on Monday that investigators had uncovered important leads in the case and said questioning Khan while in custody was necessary for further investigation.
In one of the complaints filed at Devlali police station, a woman accused Khan of hurting her religious sentiments. She also accused one of her co-workers, Danish Sheikh, of exploiting her sexually under the pretext of marriage, and also named another accused, Tauseef Al-Attar, accusing him of sexual harassment.
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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 she continued to persuade the complainant to change her religion. She also alleged that Khan warned the complainant that if she did not convert, it would bring misfortune to her family.
According to the Special Investigation Team investigating the case, Khan allegedly trained the complainant on how to perform prayers and wear the hijab at her home. Khan is also alleged to have installed Islamic applications on the complainant’s mobile phone and shared religious content with her.
The complainant also stated that she belongs to the SC community, following which the police relied on the provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in this case.
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The court reserves its order regarding Nida Khan’s bail hearing
Additional Sessions Bench Justice KG Joshi reserved her order to grant anticipatory bail to Nida Khan on Monday, without granting her any pre-arrest relief. The decision may be announced later this week on May 2.
“We have asked the court not to grant anticipatory bail because her interrogation while in custody is necessary to ascertain important aspects of the case, including the trail of money and possible foreign links,” Misar said after the hearing.
The controversial case concerns allegations of sexual exploitation and religious coercion against eight senior employees of TCS’s Nashik branch, one of whom is Nida Khan.
So far, seven accused have been arrested except Khan.
