Nida Khan Arrested After 25-Day Manhunt in TCS Nashik Sexual Harassment Case

A suspended employee, Nida Khan, has been arrested in connection with a sexual harassment.

And alleged religious conversion case linked to a Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)-associated BPO unit in Nashik, after evading police for nearly 25 days.

Khan was detained in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar following a statewide search launched by police teams investigating multiple complaints filed by women employees at the unit. The case has triggered a wider probe into allegations of workplace harassment, abuse of power, and attempts at religious coercion.

Allegations and investigation

The case first came to light after several women employees alleged sexual harassment, mental harassment and inappropriate workplace conduct within the Nashik-based BPO operations linked to Tata Consultancy Services. Following the complaints, police registered multiple FIRs and formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.

Investigators have alleged that Khan was involved in influencing complainants, including encouraging religious practices, sharing religious content, and attempting to discourage victims from pursuing legal complaints. Authorities are also examining claims related to alleged coercion and conversion-related pressure, alongside workplace misconduct.

Police further stated that digital evidence, witness statements, and communication records are part of the ongoing investigation, which has expanded beyond Nashik to explore possible links in other regions, including Malegaon and overseas locations.

Bail rejection and search operation

Khan had earlier approached court seeking anticipatory bail, but her plea was rejected, with the prosecution arguing that custodial interrogation was necessary due to the seriousness of allegations and the scale of evidence being collected.

Following this, police conducted raids at multiple suspected hideouts. However, she remained untraceable for weeks, with officers later confirming that her mobile phones were switched off and locations were frequently changing.

Her legal counsel had argued that she was pregnant and residing in Mumbai while seeking protection from arrest. The defence also disputed allegations related to forced conversion, citing the absence of a specific anti-conversion law in Maharashtra.

Wider workplace allegations

The broader case involves multiple employees of the TCS-linked BPO unit, where women aged 18 to 25 have alleged sexual harassment, stalking, intimidation, and inappropriate workplace behavior. Some complaints also include allegations of religious pressure and offensive remarks made within the workplace environment.

Police have registered at least nine FIRs and arrested several accused employees as part of the investigation. The SIT continues to examine financial, digital, and communication records to determine the extent of misconduct and possible wider networks.

Company response

Tata Consultancy Services has stated that it did not receive formal complaints through its internal ethics or POSH mechanisms regarding the accused individuals. The company has since set up an internal oversight committee and engaged independent experts to review the allegations separately from the police investigation.

The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to question suspects and analyse evidence as the case develops.