18 April,2026 07:21 PM IST | Nashik | mid-day online correspondent
TCS says zero tolerance policy, suspends accused employees. File Pic
A woman suspect in the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Nashik case, identified as Nida Khan, has approached the Nashik sessions court seeking anticipatory bail citing her pregnancy. She is accused in a case linked to alleged sexual harassment and religious conversion-related misconduct involving some women colleagues, reported PTI.
Khan stated in her plea that she is two months pregnant and requested protection from arrest. Her application also noted that the charges against her carry a punishment of less than seven years. The court is expected to hear her plea on Monday.
Her lawyer has denied all allegations, arguing that she cannot be held responsible for charges such as outraging the modesty of other women, reported the news agency.
Nashik Police Commissioner Sandip Karnik confirmed that Khan is named in one case related to alleged religious harassment at the IT company's Nashik unit. However, police say she is currently absconding.
Crime Branch teams have been deployed to trace her, with one team operating in Mumbra in Thane district. Police believe she may have shifted locations to avoid arrest. "The investigative team is following specific leads in Mumbra. We have information that the accused had shifted her base to evade arrest," a police officer said on Friday, reported PTI.
Officials said Khan's husband was questioned at their residence about her whereabouts. He reportedly told police that she had gone to a relative's house. However, when police reached the location, the house was found locked, and both her and the relative's mobile phones were switched off.
Police sources said multiple leads are being followed and search operations are ongoing.
So far, eight TCS employees have been arrested in connection with the case, including seven men and one female operations manager.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is probing nine related cases involving allegations of sexual harassment, attempted forced religious conversion, molestation, mental harassment and hurting religious sentiments. Police have formed three teams to investigate different locations as part of the ongoing probe.
TCS has clarified that the accused employee is a process associate and not an HR manager, as was being reported in some media accounts. The company also said she never held any leadership position.
TCS stated that it follows a strict zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion. Employees allegedly involved in misconduct have been suspended.
Tata Sons chairman N. Chandrasekaran described the situation as "gravely concerning and anguishing" and said a detailed internal investigation is underway.
"A preliminary review of the systems and records pertaining to the Nashik unit indicates that we have not received any complaints of the nature that are being alleged on either our ethics or POSH (prevention of sexual harassment) channels," TCS said, reported the news agency. It has now set up an oversight panel and involved external agencies to assist in the internal probe.
(With PTI Inputs)
