Nashik TCS case: Court grants bail to Nida Khan, denies bail to Danish Shaikh

A Nashik Road court granted bail to TCS employee Nida Khan on Monday. The order related to one case involving alleged sexual harassment and religious conversion. The same court refused bail to co-accused Danish Shaikh. A third accused, Tausif Akhtar, also received bail in the matter.

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Additional Sessions Judge K G Joshi said the allegations against Shaikh appeared serious. The court cited the punishment level and the risk of evidence tampering. It also flagged possible flight from justice. The judge added that threats to witnesses and emotional blackmail could not be ruled out.

TCS Nashik case: Charges and laws cited

The case relates to an FIR filed at Deolali Camp police station. It was registered under BNS provisions 69, 65, and 299. The sections cover sexual intercourse by deceitful means, sexual harassment, and outrage of religious feelings. Police also added the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act, as the victim was a Dalit.

Investigators alleged the incidents occurred between July 2022 and February 2026. The FIR said Shaikh, Akhtar, and Khan made offensive remarks about Hindu deities. It also alleged the accused used casteist language towards the complainant. The complaint further claimed the victim faced threats linked to religious conversion.

TCS Nashik case: Allegations in the FIR

According to the FIR, Shaikh gained the complainant’s trust through false claims and a marriage promise. The complaint said Shaikh later had sexual relations with the victim. Akhtar was accused of touching the victim inappropriately. The FIR placed the alleged acts in office areas, including the lobby and pantry.

The prosecution told the court that evidence supported claims of sexual assault and religious coercion. Prosecutors said Shaikh gave an Islamic book and a burqa to the victim. They alleged this was done to push religious conversion. They argued these acts showed intentional sexual exploitation and conversion efforts.

TCS Nashik case: Bail arguments and arrests

Khan was represented by advocate Rahul Kasliwal. The bail request relied mainly on the claim that Khan was pregnant. Public prosecutor Vijay Gaikwad opposed bail for both Khan and Shaikh. Lawyers Milind Kurkute and Nitin Pandit also appeared for one victim and objected.

Khan was arrested on May 7 from a rented flat in Naregaon. The location was in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in central Maharashtra. Police said the arrest followed a joint operation by law enforcement agencies. Khan had been absconding for nearly 25 days after complaints emerged from junior staffers.

The court’s detailed order granting Khan bail was not available yet. Meanwhile, the prosecution alleged a wider plan involving the victim’s identity. The complaint said the accused conspired to change the victim’s name. It also alleged Shaikh took the victim’s documents for that purpose.

The FIR also alleged Shaikh and Akhtar planned to send the victim to a person named Imran. The complaint identified Imran only as being in Malaysia. Nashik police have formed an SIT to investigate. The SIT is probing nine cases linked to alleged exploitation, conversion attempts, and harassment at the TCS unit.

After the allegations surfaced, TCS issued a clarification about its internal stance. The company said it has followed a zero-tolerance policy for a long time. It referred to harassment and coercion of any form. TCS also said employees allegedly involved in sexual harassment at the Nashik office were suspended.

With inputs from PTI