Suspended Tata Consultancy Services employee Nida Khan, one of the main accused in the sexual harassment and alleged religious conversion case linked to the company’s Nashik BPO unit, was produced before the Nashik Road Civil and Criminal Court after being arrested following nearly 25 days on the run. Police traced Khan to an apartment in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, where she was allegedly staying with her maternal aunt and other relatives. Officials said court proceedings in the matter were being conducted in camera. Khan, who worked as a telecaller at the TCS Nashik BPO unit, was first presented before a local court in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar on a transfer warrant before being brought to Nashik after a medical examination. Investigators have accused her of hurting religious sentiments, attempting religious conversion, discouraging complainants from approaching police and allegedly helping other accused linked to rape and sexual exploitation allegations. The arrest followed weeks of searches conducted by police teams across Maharashtra.
According to investigators, Khan had been associated with the TCS Nashik BPO unit since 2022, before later shifting to Mumbai after obtaining a transfer. Police said she initially stayed with her husband in Bhiwandi and later moved to Mumbra in Thane district while continuing work at different TCS BPO facilities in Powai and Malad. The controversy escalated on March 26 after an FIR was registered naming Danish Sheikh, Tausif Attar and Nida Khan as accused in the case. The complaint included allegations related to attempted religious conversion, hurting religious sentiments, creating enmity between communities and offences under the Prevention of Atrocities Act. The complainant also accused the group of involvement in coercion and sexual exploitation. Police arrested the two co-accused a day after the FIR, while Khan allegedly went absconding soon after the case surfaced. Her disappearance triggered an extensive statewide search operation by the Nashik Police.
Throughout April, police teams conducted multiple raids and searches at locations linked to Khan and her relatives. Investigators searched her residence, her in-laws’ house in Bhiwandi, relatives’ homes in Mumbai’s Bhendi Bazaar area, her husband’s residence in Mumbra and her aunt’s house in Nashik. Officials said repeated raids were conducted on April 14, April 18 and other dates as police attempted to trace her movements. Meanwhile, Khan approached the Nashik Road court on April 17 seeking pre-arrest bail in the case. The court later conducted two in-camera hearings on April 20 and April 27 before ultimately rejecting her anticipatory bail plea on May 2. Following the rejection, the Nashik Police SIT intensified surveillance and tracking efforts. Investigators then received specific information that eventually led them to a flat in Kaiser Colony in the Naregaon locality of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.
Police detained Khan from the apartment on May 7 before producing her before a local court and transferring her to Nashik for further questioning. On Friday, she was produced before the Nashik Road Civil and Criminal Court under heavy security arrangements. Officials said investigators would continue questioning her regarding allegations of attempted religious conversion, influencing complainants and assisting other accused linked to the case. The matter has drawn significant attention due to the serious allegations and the involvement of employees associated with the Nashik unit of TCS. Police said the investigation remains ongoing and additional evidence, digital records and statements are being examined. Authorities are also probing whether other individuals may have played supporting roles in the alleged activities. Further legal proceedings are expected following the completion of interrogation and evidence analysis.
