Nashik, April 22
A court in Maharashtra’s Nashik on Tuesday denied interim protection from arrest to Tata Consultancy Services employee Danish Shaikh in a case related to allegations of sexual harassment and forced religious conversion at the company’s local unit.
Shaikh, a 31-year-old software professional, is already in judicial custody after being arrested in one of the nine FIRs registered in connection with the matter. He had moved the court seeking interim bail in another case registered at the Mumbai Naka police station.
The defense sought a temporary stay of arrest until the main plea is decided. The prosecution opposed the request and said it required time to file its response. After hearing both sides, the court refused to grant interim relief and directed the prosecution to submit its reply by April 27.
In this case, Shaikh has been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 75 related to sexual harassment and Section 299 for deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings, along with other charges.
A Special Investigation Team is probing nine cases linked to allegations of exploitation, attempts at forced conversion, hurting religious sentiments, molestation, and mental harassment of female employees at the TCS unit in Nashik. So far, eight individuals, including a woman HR manager, have been arrested in connection with the investigation. Other accused persons have also filed bail applications, which are likely to be heard in the coming days.
Tata Consultancy Services said it maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion and confirmed that employees allegedly involved in the incidents at the Nashik office have been suspended. The matter is under investigation, and further legal proceedings will follow after the prosecution files its response.
