A sessions court in Nashik on Monday granted regular bail to Nida Khan and co-accused Tausif Attar in the alleged Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Nashik BPO sexual harassment and religious coercion case, while rejecting the bail application of another accused, Mohammad Danish Sheikh, citing the gravity of the allegations against him.
Additional Sessions Judge Kedar G Joshi passed the order after hearing submissions by the defence and the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing multiple FIRs registered in connection with allegations of sexual harassment, attempted religious conversion, molestation, mental harassment and offences relating to hurting religious sentiments involving employees at the TCS-linked BPO in Nashik. A detailed copy of the bail order in respect of Nida Khan was awaited.
Nida Khan, who was arrested on May 7, 2026, following a 42-day search operation, is the only woman among the accused. She was named in the Deolali Camp Police Station case and was accused of allegedly influencing a female colleague to adopt Islamic religious practices by providing her with a burqa, religious books, Islamic mobile applications and other religious material.
During the investigation, the SIT also alleged that she shared religious videos with the complainant and was examining her alleged links with Malaysia after claims that she had assured the complainant of helping her secure employment there.
The counsel appearing for Khan submitted that the investigation had been substantially completed and the charge sheet had already been filed, making further custodial interrogation unnecessary. The counsel further placed reliance on medical grounds, including Khan’s pregnancy, as one of the principal grounds for the grant of bail.
The Special Public Prosecutor, appearing for the SIT, opposed the application. The Court granted bail to Khan, along with co-accused Tausif Attar, who is facing allegations relating to sexual misconduct.
The judge, however, declined to grant similar relief to Mohammad Danish Sheikh, observing that the allegations against him were serious in nature. According to the prosecution, Sheikh allegedly gained the confidence of the complainant by falsely promising marriage despite already being married and subsequently established a physical relationship with her under that pretext. He is also accused of pressuring female employees into religious practices and attempting religious conversion.
Rejecting his bail application, the Court observed that the allegations disclosed grave offences and noted the possibility of witness intimidation, tampering with evidence, absconding, threatening witnesses and emotionally influencing victims if he were released at the present stage.
It further held that, considering the nature of the accusations, the trauma allegedly suffered by the victim and the stage of the criminal proceedings, Sheikh did not deserve to be released on bail until the examination of material prosecution witnesses during trial.
The SIT is investigating a total of nine criminal cases arising out of the alleged incidents at the TCS Nashik unit, including one registered at Deolali Camp Police Station and eight at Mumbai Naka Police Station. The cases involve allegations of sexual exploitation, attempted forced religious conversion, outraging religious sentiments, stalking, molestation and workplace harassment of female employees.
Apart from Khan, Attar and Danish Sheikh, the accused include Shafi Bikhan Sheikh, Raza Rafiq Memon, Tausif Attar, Shahrukh Qureshi and Asif Aftab Ansari. Raza Memon, a team leader, has been accused of intimidating employees and making obscene remarks towards female colleagues, while other senior employees have been implicated in separate FIRs alleging stalking, harassment and attempts at religious conversion.
Police have also arrested Ashwini Chainani, Operations Manager of the Internal Committee constituted under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act, for allegedly failing to act on complaints of workplace harassment. The investigation into all the cases is continuing.
The post TCS Nashik case: Nashik court grants bail to Nida Khan, rejects Danish Sheikh plea appeared first on India Legal.